Cessna Runs Out of Fuel; Pilot Rescued in Ocean

By Wendy Osher

Crews from the Coast Guard rescued a pilot Friday night (October 7, 2010), who was forced to ditch his Cessna plane after running out of fuel off Hawaii Island.

The Cessna 310 aircraft made the descent at around 5:23 p.m. about 13 miles northeast of the island.

The 65-year-old male pilot climbed out of the cockpit and onto the wing of the twin-engine craft, where he was picked up by Coast Guard crews.

A rescue swimmer hoisted the man into a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and transported him to Hilo Medical Center.  Authorities say the pilot was reported to be coherent with no significant injuries.

The pilot had departed from Monterey, California and was en route to Hilo, Hawaii, when he notified authorities that he was 500 miles away from land and running low on fuel.

The Federal Aviation Administration contacted Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu at 12:30 p.m. to inform the Coast Guard of the impending situation.

A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane from Air Station Barbers Point was deployed to assist the pilot during the process of ditching his aircraft.

The Coast Guard also deployed the Cutter Kiska to assist and had an MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter crew from Air Station Barbers Point placed on stand-by at Hilo International Airport.