Monday, December 11, 2017

Controlled Flight into Terrain: Cessna U206G Stationair, N732DF; fatal accident occurred December 10, 2017 near Molokai Airport (PHMK), Kaunakakai, Hawaii

View of the flight track information.
National Transportation Safety Board

View of the termination of the flight track information.
National Transportation Safety Board

View of the accident site with a low cloud layer present, shortly after the accident occurred, looking to the northwest.
Maui County Police Department

View of the accident site on a clear day, looking to the northwest.
National Transportation Safety Board

View of the fuselage and the empennage.
National Transportation Safety Board

View of the fuselage and engine. 
National Transportation Safety Board

Aerial view of the accident site on the mountain and of runway 5 at Molokai Airport (MKK).
Maui County Police Department

Federal Aviation Administration aviation weather camera in Alaska.

Exemplar: Gustavus Airport (GST), Gustavus, Alaska, Federal Aviation Administration aviation weather camera coverage areas.
Federal Aviation Administration

Exemplar: Gustavus Airport (GST), Gustavus, Alaska, FAA aviation weather camera (southeast) clear day.
Federal Aviation Administration

Exemplar: Gustavus Airport (GST), Gustavus, Alaska, FAA aviation weather camera (southeast) instrument meteorological conditions image.
Federal Aviation Administration

Designated mountainous terrain in Hawaii.











Electronic Code of Federal Regulations


The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Honolulu, Hawaii
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas
Continental Motors; Mobile, Alabama

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N732DF

Location: Maunaloa, HI
Accident Number: ANC18FA012
Date & Time: 12/10/2017, 1105 HST
Registration: N732DF
Aircraft: CESSNA U206
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On December 10, 2017, about 1105 Hawaii-Aleutian standard time (HST), a Cessna U206G airplane, N732DF, impacted remote mountainous terrain during an instrument approach to Molokai Airport (MKK), Kaunakakai, Hawaii. The private pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed by a postimpact fire. The airplane was registered to the pilot who was operating it as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. Day instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) were reported at MKK at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the visual flight rules (VFR) flight, which originated from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Honolulu, Hawaii, about 1030.

The pilot and his wife were returning to their home on Molokai at the time of the accident. Radar and air traffic control information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicated that the pilot departed HNL and obtained VFR flight following services from the Honolulu Combined Control Facility (HCF). The pilot flew to the west side of Molokai as shown below in figure 1. About 1050, the pilot requested the VOR-A instrument approach at MKK. The pilot was instructed to maintain VFR and was issued a heading change, which he acknowledged. At 1053, the MKK tower controller informed HCF who was communicating with the airplane, that MKK was "IFR." At 1055, the pilot advised the controller that he had obtained the most recent weather information at MKK (ATIS information Juliet); the pilot was then cleared for the approach at 1056 and instructed to contact MKK tower at 1058.

Figure 1 – Flight track information.

After making several turns on the west side of Molokai, the flight continued south and then began a turn to the east toward MKK as shown below in figure 2. About 1101, when the airplane was about 6 miles from the runway, the tower controller advised the pilot that he was south of the final approach course. The pilot responded that he was "coming back," that he was "right at the edge of VFR," and that he had "pretty good visibility." No further communications were received from the accident pilot, and radar contact was lost shortly thereafter.

Figure 2 – Flight track information.

At 1106, the MKK tower controller informed HCF that they had lost radar and radio communications with the pilot. The MKK tower controller also notified local first responders on Molokai. The wreckage was located by the Maui County Fire Department at 1213, about 3.35 miles southwest of the airport.

The pilot of another airplane reported that he had planned to fly from HNL to MKK the day of the accident and departed shortly after the accident pilot. Before departing, he checked weather radar information and saw precipitation on the north side of Molokai but stated that MKK was reporting VFR. He was receiving VFR flight following services, and, after departing HNL airspace, the controller notified him that MKK was under instrument conditions. The pilot, who was not instrument rated, chose to return to HNL and landed there without incident.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 79, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 03/06/2015
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 04/25/2017
Flight Time: (Estimated) 2697 hours (Total, all aircraft) 

The pilot's logbook was not available for review and his recency of experience could not be determined. The pilot reported 2,697 total hours of flight experience on his most recent application for an FAA medical certificate on March 6, 2015.

An FAA inspector spoke with the flight instructor who conducted the accident pilot's most recent flight review on April 25, 2017. The flight instructor reported that the pilot was a very competent VFR pilot, but he was not proficient in instrument flight. The instructor did not endorse the pilot for an instrument proficiency check. While the pilot held an instrument rating, it could not be determined his recency of instrument experience or his total instrument flight experience in simulated or actual conditions.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N732DF
Model/Series: U206G
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1978
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: U20604662
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection:
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3600 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Continental Motors
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: IO-520-F27B
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 300 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held:None  

The airplane's maintenance records were not available for review. Review of manufacturer and airworthiness information for the airplane indicated that it was equipped for IFR operations; however, whether the airplane had received the inspections required for IFR flight could not be determined.

There was no evidence that the airplane was equipped with onboard weather equipment or a terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS), nor was it required to be. A heavily-damaged tablet computer was found in the wreckage; however, the pilot's subscription to the ForeFlight application, which was capable of displaying weather and terrain information, had expired several months before the accident.

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PHMK, 443 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 3 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 2103 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 66°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 1200 ft agl
Visibility:  6 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 1700 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 8 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 30°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / 21°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: Moderate - Mist
Departure Point: HONOLULU, HI (HNL)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: KAUNAKAKAI, HI (MKK)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 1030 HST
Type of Airspace: Class D 

The closest weather observation site was located at MKK, about 4 miles northeast of the accident site at an elevation of 443 ft mean sea level (msl). Marginal VFR conditions prevailed at the airport throughout the morning of the accident. The 1006 MKK observation included 6 miles visibility, light rain, mist, broken ceiling at 1,400 ft and 3,300 ft msl, and an overcast ceiling at 5,500 ft msl.

ATIS Juliet reported 4 miles of visibility with light rain and mist, along with a ceiling of 1,400 ft broken with a broken cloud layer at 3,300 ft.

The MKK special weather observation at 1103 reported wind from 030° at 8 knots, 6 miles visibility in mist, scattered clouds at 1,200 ft msl, a broken ceiling at 1,700 ft msl, overcast ceiling at 4,800 ft msl, temperature 71°F, dew point 70°F, and an altimeter setting of 30.04 inches of mercury. The remarks included: automated observation system with a precipitation discriminator, rain ended at 1103, hourly precipitation since 1053 less than 0.01 inches or a trace, temperature 71°F, dew point 69°F. The closest Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) to the accident site was from the National Weather Service (NWS) Molokai (PHMO) antenna, about 1.5 miles west of the accident site. Figures 3, 4, and 5 show base reflectivity images several minutes before and after the time of the accident, with multiple bands of precipitation near the accident site and MKK (in the images below, MKK is referred to as PHMK).

Figure 3 – PHMO WSR-88D 0.5° base reflectivity image at 1057 
National Weather Service 

Figure 4 - PHMO WSR-88D 0.5° base reflectivity image at 1102 
National Weather Service 

Figure 5 - PHMO WSR-88D 0.5° base reflectivity image at 1107 
National Weather Service 

An Area Forecast issued by the NWS at 1030 listed marginal VFR (MVFR) ceilings and scattered showers for the accident site and MKK, and stated in part:

AIRMET SIERRA for MTN OBSC is in effect for Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Oahu. An ENE-WSW frontal cloud band nearly stationary over Maui, Lanai and Molokai will produce widespread MVFR ceilings and scattered showers through the day.

Weather Briefings

A search of official weather briefing sources, such as the Lockheed Martin Flight Service and the Direct User Access Terminal Service, indicated that the pilot did not access these services for preflight weather information.

Airport Information

Airport: Molokai (MKK)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 453 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Wet
Runway Used: 05
IFR Approach: Circling; Practice; VOR
Runway Length/Width: 4494 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop

MKK is a public airport in class D airspace, located about 6 miles northwest of Kaunakakai, Hawaii, at a surveyed elevation of 454 ft msl. The airport had two runways (5/23 and 17/35) open at the time of the accident. Runway 5/23 was 4,494 ft long and 100 ft wide, and runway 17/35 was 3,118 ft long and 100 ft wide.

Runway 5/23 was equipped with medium intensity runway edge lights, a precision approach path indicator (PAPI), and a medium intensity approach lighting system with runway alignment indicator lights. Runway 5 was also equipped with runway end identifier lights. Runway 5 was serviced by GPS, VOR, and tactical air navigation system instrument approach procedures.

According to the FAA Airport/Facility Directory, the runway 5 PAPI system was not authorized 1.8 nautical miles beyond the landing threshold due to rapidly rising terrain. This document also stated that a mountain, about 1,280 ft msl, was located 2.8 nautical miles from the threshold of runway 5 on the extended centerline, as shown in figure 6. The mountain did not have obstruction lighting in place, nor was it required to.


Figure 6 – Aerial view of the accident site with the wreckage on the mountain in the lower left corner and of runway 5 at MKK at the center top.
Maui County Police Department

A review of NOTAMS found no information on the day of the accident that would have affected the flight to MKK. 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: Unknown
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 21.133056, -157.149722 (est)

The accident site was located in remote, mountainous terrain on the Molokai Ranch, Maunaloa, Hawaii, at an elevation about 1,285 ft msl about 3.35 miles southwest of the MKK runway 5 threshold. A postaccident photograph taken by first responders about 1.5 hours after the accident showed a low cloud layer present at the accident site (see figure 7).


Figure 7 – View of the accident site with a low cloud layer present, shortly after the accident occurred, looking to the northwest.
Maui County Police Department



The wreckage was located on the western side of a ridge with dirt and low growth vegetation that crested about 100 ft above the surrounding area, with about a 50° incline. The wreckage was destroyed by a postimpact fire.

Damage to 20-ft-tall trees indicated that the airplane impacted them on a northeasterly heading; it then struck a second set of trees that were about 15 ft tall. Multiple tree branches with propeller cut marks were found along the wreckage path. The wreckage came to rest on a 220° heading. All major structural components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. The fuselage from the firewall outward to both wing roots and to the midempennage area was consumed by fire. The leading edges of both wings displayed impact deformation.

Control cable continuity was established from the empennage to the cockpit and from both wings to the cockpit. The flaps were found in the retracted position. The elevator trim tab was found at the 15° trailing edge up position.

The fuel strainer screen and fuel strainer bowl were both found clean. The fuel selector handle was not located. The top of the shaft from the fuel selector handle to the fuel selector valve was melted by the fire. The fuel selector valve was found in the right tank position. Most of the fuel system was consumed by fire damage.

Most of the cockpit instrumentation was destroyed by fire. The altimeter Kollsman window was found at a setting of 30.25. The heading indicator was found at 350°. The heading bug was found at 270°. Rotational scoring was observed on the attitude indicator gyro consistent with rotation at the time of impact.

Both occupant seats and seat restraint systems, along with the rest of the cabin furnishings, were consumed by fire.

The engine was intact and sustained impact and thermal damage. All three metal propeller blades were located underneath the cockpit area and remained attached to the engine crankshaft. One propeller blade was bent aft, another blade exhibited s-bending, and the third blade had a partially separated tip.

No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airframe were noted that would have precluded normal operation.

The engine was recovered from the site for further examination. Internal continuity was established. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the engine were noted that would have precluded normal operation.

Medical And Pathological Information

The pilot reported to the FAA having a superficial venous thrombosis in 2014. The pilot's last FAA medical certificate expired on March 31, 2017. The family of the pilot provided a completed copy of the FAA Form 8700-2 Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist to the NTSB and FAA, which is used during the FAA BasicMed qualification process; however, review of FAA records revealed that the pilot did not complete all the requirements for the BasicMed program.

Pacific Pathologists, LLC, Wailuku, Hawaii, conducted an autopsy of the pilot. The cause of death was attributed to multiple blunt force injuries. Severe coronary atherosclerosis with 50-90% stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery, 50% stenosis of the circumflex, and 50-80% stenosis of the right coronary artery with evidence of previous ischemia demonstrated by fibrosis of the posterior papillary muscle was identified. The leg veins previously diagnosed with venous thrombus could not be evaluated due to the extent of injury, but there was no evidence of pulmonary thromboemboli.

Toxicology testing performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory on specimens from the pilot were negative for carbon monoxide, ethanol, and drugs. Cyanide tests were not performed.

Additional Information

Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT)

FAA Advisory Circular 61-134, General Aviation Controlled Flight into Terrain Awareness, discusses the risk that CFIT poses for pilots and states in part:

CFIT occurs when an airworthy aircraft is flown, under the control of a qualified pilot, into terrain (water or obstacles) with inadequate awareness on the part of the pilot of the impending collision.

The importance of complete weather information, understanding the significance of the weather information, and being able to correlate the pilot's skills and training, aircraft capabilities, and operating environment with an accurate forecast cannot be emphasized enough.


Location: Maunaloa, HI
Accident Number: ANC18FA012
Date & Time: 12/10/2017, 1105 HST
Registration: N732DF
Aircraft: TEXTRON AVIATION U206
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On December 10, 2017, about 1105 Hawaiian standard time, a wheel-equipped Textron Aviation (formerly Cessna) U206G airplane, N732DF, impacted remote hills in Maunaloa, Hawaii about 4 miles southwest of the Molokai Airport, Kaunakakai, Hawaii while performing an instrument flight rules (IFR) approach. The instrument-rated private pilot and sole passenger sustained fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight that transitioned to an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight. Instrument meteorological conditions were reported at the Molokai Airport at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii, about 1030.

In a conversation on December 12, the Molokai Police Department reported to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) that the purpose of the personal flight was for travel from the island of Oahu, to the island of Molokai in Hawaii. After departing from the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, the pilot flew VFR as he traveled to the west side of Molokai, where he transitioned to IFR in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Honolulu Center Radar Approach Control Center (ZHN) for the VOR-A (very high frequency omni directional radio range) circling instrument approach to runway 5 at the Molokai Airport with an IFR clearance. The Molokai Airport tower air traffic controller reported to the pilot that the airport was IFR and the pilot responded that he had received the automatic terminal information service (ATIS) "juliet."

While conducting the circling instrument approach, the air traffic controller observed the airplane south of course at a 6-mile final and advised the pilot of this status. The pilot responded that he was correcting, but was maneuvering to remain clear of clouds. The airplane then disappeared from the radar display system and the air control controller transmitted to the pilot with no response. ZHN was notified within 3 minutes of losing contact with the airplane and an alert notice (ALNOT) was issued approximately 15 minutes later. The air traffic controller notified local first responders on Molokai. No emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was received by U.S. Air Force or U.S. Coast Guard assets.

The Molokai Fire Department arrived at the accident site at 1213 and the Molokai Police Department arrived at the accident site at 1230. The accident site was located in remote hills on the Molokai Ranch, Maunaloa. The airplane's wreckage was found on the western side of a hill that crested about 100 feet, with about a 50-degree incline, and was populated with low growth vegetation. The wreckage was subsequently incinerated by a postimpact fire.

On December 13, the NTSB IIC, two aviation safety inspectors from the FAA Honolulu Flight Standards District Office, an air safety investigator from Textron Aviation, and the Molokai Police Department traveled to the accident site utilizing off road vehicles. The wreckage is pending recovery and transportation to a secure facility for future examination of the airframe and engine.

The closest official weather observation station is located at the Molokai Airport, about 4 miles northeast of the accident site. At 1103, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting, and stated in part: Wind 030 degrees (true) at 8 knots; visibility 6 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, scattered clouds at 1,200 feet and broken clouds at 1,700 feet; temperature 72 degrees F; dew point 70 degrees F; altimeter 30.04 inHg. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: TEXTRON AVIATION
Registration: N732DF
Model/Series: U206 G
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PHMK, 443 ft msl
Observation Time: 2103 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 3 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / 21°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 1200 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots, 30°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 1700 ft agl
Visibility:  6 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: HONOLULU, HI (HNL)
Destination: KAUNAKAKAI, HI (MKK)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: Unknown
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude:  21.133056, -157.149722 (est)



A retired Kahala dentist living on Molokai and his wife have been identified as the victims that died in the fiery crash of a small plane on Molokai Sunday.

The family of William F. Vogt, 78, and Lynn Vogt, 74, have notified his former dental partner Dr. Derek Takai’s office that the two were killed in the crash, said Toni Mata, who worked in Vogt’s front office for six years. Takai bought the practice from Vogt after he retired in the mid 2000s.

“I’ve been telling people basically that he was a very nice man and his wife was a very kind woman,” Mata said. “He cared a lot about his patients and his patients loved and respected him as a dentist.”

Mata said she knew Vogt was an avid pilot who loved to fly his Cessna 206. The propeller plane crashed while en route to the Molokai Airport, “under unknown circumstances,” said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor released the plane’s tail number as N732DF earlier today. According to the FAA’s aircraft registry, the plane belonged to Vogt, who had a private pilot’s license.

Gregor said FAA inspectors will travel to Molokai tomorrow to begin investigating the crash. National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Keith Holloway said the NTSB investigator has been delayed due to weather, but its possible that he also will arrive tomorrow.

Maui Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto said firefighters and police discovered the bodies Sunday afternoon after responding to a 11:15 a.m. alert from the Molokai Air Traffic Control saying that they had lost communication with an aircraft that would have been three to four miles west of the airfield when contact was broken.At 12:12 p.m, Sunday., firefighters located wreckage of the small private aircraft in a remote location.

“We were able to locate the wreckage in a difficult-to-reach brush area, three to four miles west of the airport just east of the FAA navigational aid —the land-based radio beacon that pilots use to navigate between the islands,” said Maui Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto.

While it was not raining at the time, fire crews reported seeing low cloud ceilings and fog down to the road when they responded to the crash.

Taomoto said firefighters and police would remove the bodies from the aircraft and that police would secure the scene until investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board arrive.


http://www.staradvertiser.com

HONOLULU -  Family and friends have the identified the two individuals involved in Sunday's plane crash on Molokai as Lynn and Bill Vogt. 

The family said in a statement: 

"We appreciate all the love and support from everyone who knew them. We are grieving heavily right now, and hope that people will respect our privacy during this difficult time."

Lynn was a "beloved member of the Kamehameha Schools' ohana for more than three decades,"  Dr. Taran Chun, Po'o Kula (Head of School), Kamehameha Schools Kapalama said in a statement. Lynn was a full-time teacher at the Kapalama campus from 1975 to 2002 and a substitute teacher up until 2010. 

Bob was a retired dentist in Kahala. A former colleague of his told Island News he was a "kind and caring" person who was "absolutely loved" by his patients. 

The Maui Fire Department found the wreckage of the small aircraft, a Cessna 206 tail #N732DF, in a remote area four miles west of the Molokai airport, Sunday afternoon. 

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Original article can be found here ➤  http://www.kitv.com




MOLOKAI (HawaiiNewsNow) - Two people were killed Sunday when a Cessna U206G Stationair crashed near the town of Maunaloa on Molokai, Maui Fire Department officials confirmed.

Allen Kenitzer, an FAA spokesman, said the plane crashed while inbound to the Molokai Airport.

The cause of the crash was not immediately clear.

Officials got word from the Molokai air traffic control tower about 11:15 a.m. that communication with an aircraft was lost.

Emergency crews responded to an area three to four miles west of the Molokai Airport. And just before 12:15 p.m., the crash site and wreckage was located, The Maui Fire Department said.

"When firefighters found the crash site, the aircraft was smoldering. It looks like the aircraft may have burned after impact," said Edward Taomoto, of Maui Fire Department.

Employees from Molokai Ranch assisted rescue crews by unlocking gates and allowing access to Molokai Ranch property, where the plane went down.

It is unclear if weather was a factor. But Taomoto said, "It was probably raining hard earlier because crews couldn't use the fire trucks to navigate the muddy roads, so they had to use the all terrain vehicles in order to locate the wreckage site."

The identities of those on board the plane could not be confirmed. 

Maui Fire Department, FAA and NTSB are investigating. 

This isn't the first deadly aircraft crash on Molokai this year.

Two months ago, a chopper went down near the island with two men on board. They were identified as 27-year-old Jeremy Dossetter and 25-year-old Oliver Kirsch. They were presumed dead after the Coast Guard eventually called off the search. 

In December 2016, three friends went missing and were never located after the Cessna they were travelling in dropped off radar. Wreckage was never found.

The NTSB said it is most likely the plane crashed into the ocean.

Prior to that in November 2016, prominent island attorney Gary Galiher and his female passenger was killed when their chopper crashed into the rugged Molokai Terrain.

Weather is believed to have been a factor in that crash.

And in 2011, five people were killed when a tour helicopter crashed into a hillside on Molokai's eastern side. Two newlyweds from Pennsylvania, a Canadian couple and the pilot were killed. Authorities said pilot error is to blame for the crash.

Story, video and photo gallery ➤ http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com

A deadly plane crash took the lives of two people four miles west of Molokai airport.

Maui fire officials say the call came in at 11:15 a.m. from the air traffic control tower after they lost communications with a Cessna 206.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer told the Associated Press that the plane crashed due to “unknown circumstances” while on its way to the airport.

Fire crews located the crash site in Maunaloa Valley at 12:12 p.m., there were no survivors.

Officials have confirmed two fatalities inside the aircraft.

The aircraft did appear to have burned after impact. Fire crews extinguished a smoldering fire that was left upon arrival.

Crews reported low clouds and fog to the highway. It was not raining at the time.

An ATV was required to access the area where the aircraft was found due to muddy roads.

Maui police have secured the scene until federal investigators with Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board arrive at the location.

Story and video ➤ http://khon2.com

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