Incident Overview
A ferry flight en route from Pago Pago to Honolulu encountered dual engine failure while approaching Hawaii Island. The pilot, who was seriously injured in the subsequent crash, attempted to ditch the aircraft. The aircraft came down approximately 28 nautical miles southwest of Kauna Point and was lost.
Sequence of Events
As the aircraft neared Hawaii Island, both engines failed. The pilot responded by reducing altitude and maneuvering to ditch the aircraft in the ocean. The ditching resulted in serious injuries to the pilot and the destruction of the aircraft.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause of the accident was dual engine failure in flight due to fuel exhaustion. A contributing factor was a fuel leak in the left tip tank of unknown origin.