NTSB: “Erratic Flight Pattern” Observed in Deadly 2012 Cessna Crash

Jose Krall is a talented baker and pastry chef. Maui Now file photo.

By Wendy Osher

The National Transportation Safety Board issued a factual report on a Cessna crash into the ocean off Maui that claimed the life of an island resident.

The report indicates that no aircraft logbooks or personal flight records were located for the plane; and the pilot, who was a sole occupant of the aircraft, is presumed to have died in the December 1, 2012 incident.

In the hours following the incident, the Coast Guard identified the pilot as Jose Krall, 51, the owner of the Maui Bake Shop & Deli in Wailuku.

According to the NTSB report, the Cessna 172S, N3554Y, impacted the Pacific Ocean about five miles from Kahului Airport while en route to Kaunakakai, Molokaʻi on a personal flight, and sustained “substantial damage.”

The Coast Guard recovered a portion of a landing gear, along with some interior airplane pieces; however the main wreckage was not located, the report stated.  The four-seat, fixed-gear Cessna C172S was manufactured in 2001.

The NTSB report details information compiled by the Federal Aviation Administration, stating that the flight departed about six minutes prior to the accident, with an Air Traffic Control specialist noting an “erratic flight pattern.”

“The pilot declined assistance and informed ATC that he planned to make a right 360-degree turn and track inbound,” however,  “instead of a right 360-degree turn, the airplane’s radar track showed a left descending turn and was then lost from radar,” according to the report.

The NTSB report notes that Krall held a private pilot certificate and had a total time of 785 hours with 50 hours logged over a recent six month period prior to the incident.