Posted at 12:20 p.m., Friday, December 16, 2005
Maui personnel attempt recovery of pilot's body
By Christie Wilson
Advertiser Neighbor Island Editor
The single-engine plane belonged to Maui Aviators, a flight school that also rents planes, and left Kahului Airport at 11:34 a.m. yesterday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The crash was reported at 3:52 p.m. when smoke was spotted about five to six miles southwest of the Hana Airport. The FAA said a single occupant was on board.
Darkness and rugged terrain prevented a helicopter recovery crew from fully inspecting the crash scene yesterday. The ridge is accessible only by air.
Maui Aviators owner Jon Muralt has not returned phone calls seeking comment.
Air safety investigator Kristi Dunks with the National Transportation Safety Board in Los Angeles said today she would probably fly to Maui sometime this weekend once the wreckage is recovered. She said she will be unable to inspect the crash site due to the unstable terrain.
