Flight History
The pilot rented an aircraft for a personal cross-country flight between islands. Departing Honolulu with full fuel tanks (48 usable gallons), the pilot made full-stop landings on Molokai and Maui. After a 40-minute ground stop on Maui, the flight continued to Hilo on the island of Hawaii, arriving at 1530 after a 47-minute flight. Following a 25-minute ground time, the aircraft departed Hilo for a nonstop return to Honolulu.
While on the ground at Hilo, the pilot estimated that 26 gallons of fuel had been consumed, leaving 22 gallons. The pilot believed this amount would easily suffice for the return flight plus a 30-minute reserve. No refueling was performed at Hilo.
Loss of Power and Ditching
Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes into the return flight, the left fuel gauge showed a rapid decrease. The pilot checked the aircraft exterior for leaks but found none. With the fuel selector on the left tank, the engine began losing power. The pilot switched to the right tank, contacted Honolulu CERAP, declared a low fuel state, and requested radar vectors to the nearest airport. The controller provided a heading to an airport on Lanai, about 27 miles away.
At 1816, the engine lost all power, forcing the pilot to ditch the aircraft in the ocean. The pilot and passenger exited into the water before the aircraft sank. They were rescued 25 minutes later by a passing boat.
The total elapsed time from departure at Honolulu to the accident was 5 hours 3 minutes, consisting of 3 hours 43 minutes of flight time and 1 hour 20 minutes of ground time. The pilot did not have flotation or survival gear on board. The water depth at the accident site exceeds 600 feet, and the aircraft has not been recovered.