NTSB: Crash report may take a year

National Transportation Safety Board investigators said Wednesday that it could take up to a year to determine the cause of February’s powered hang glider crash off the Westside.

Pilot Jim Gaither and passenger Kim Buergel of Spokane, Wash., died when the aircraft went down near Glass Beach in Hanapepe. Gaither, 55, owned Big Sky Kaua‘i in Hanapepe. An autopsy report has not been released by the county.

Peter Knudson, a spokesman for the Safety Board, said fatal accidents typically take 12 months to investigate.

“They’re more complex and there is a longer timeline with those,” he said.

The light sport aircraft was substantially damaged when it hit the water on the morning of Feb. 15, according to a preliminary report of the crash on NTSB’s website. It had departed from Port Allen Airport around 10:45 a.m.

The aircraft sank in 50 feet of water and was recovered seven days after the accident.

“According to witnesses, the aircraft was maneuvering near the edge of a cliff,” the report states. “One witness stated that the aircraft pulled up and then immediately plunged into the ocean.”

It notes that visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight.

Jim Struhsaker, a senior NTSB safety investigator, explained that Gaither flew in good weather. And although he did not submit a flight plan, none was necessary.

“You’re not obligated to,” Struhsaker said. “It’s a recommendation by the FAA.”

He said people generally don’t file one on “most of the small local flights.”

The investigator is working to chase down witnesses, and will eventually send his report to NTSB’s Washington office. He would not speculate as to the cause of the crash.

“My obligation into NTSB is to collect facts, circumstances and conditions,” Struhsaker said.