Parents sue company over death of boy pilot

By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer

The parents of a 17-year-old O'ahu boy who was killed almost a year ago after the small plane he was flying crashed on Moloka'i have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the company that provided him with flying lessons and helped him arrange the fatal flight.

The lawsuit, filed by Honolulu attorney Michael Green on behalf of Mitchell and Natalie Hayes, claims that George's Aviation Services, its owner George Hanzawa and employee Jennifer Oka encouraged Chezray Hayes to make a solo flight from O'ahu to Maui despite deteriorating weather conditions.

The lawsuit says the boy was authorized to fly using only "visual flight rules" and did not have an "instrument rating." According to the suit, numerous pilots with far more experience canceled flights along a similar route because of bad weather at about the time the boy departed for Maui.

Hanzawa said he was "saddened and disappointed" to learn of the lawsuit.

"Chezray was well-taught and well-instructed" but ended up making a "pilot error that was beyond my or my company's control," Hanzawa said.

"We're grieving just like the parents are and this just opens up old wounds," Hanzawa said. "Chezray was a much-loved kid — we loved him, too — but there's nothing we can do to bring him back."

Reach David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.