The National Transportation Safety Board today released a preliminary report indicating the unidentified helicopter, hired by the National Park Service, didn't see the small plane hit Haleakala but spotted smoke rising from the wreckage about 100 yards from where the helicopter pilot was working on a miconia eradication mission.

Alan Gerow, 59, of Salt Lake City, was killed in the crash. Gerow rented the plane from Maui Aviators at Kahului Airport and was planning to make a round-trip flight from Kahului to Hana, the NTSB report said.

Prior to the fatal flight, Gerow had taken the airplane out on a checkout flight with a certified flight instructor on Nov. 26. They flew toward Hana but did not land, the NTSB said. However, Gerow completed a series of maneuvers and made seven landings at Kahului Airport.

The report said he has reserved the plane for another flight Dec. 16.