Investigators Look for Clues in Maui Crash

Investigators spent Friday combing through the wreckage of the Hawaii Air Ambulance crash on Maui, looking for clues as to why the pilot, Peter Miller, was trying to change runways just before landing.

Miller and two emergency medical workers were killed Wednesday when the air ambulance crashed into a BMW dealership's car lot on its way to pick up a patient at Kahului Airport.

National Transportation Safety Board records show that Miller was involved in another airplane crash last year.

Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board examined the wreckage at BMW Maui.

Miller's other crash happened at Honolulu International Airport on July 1, 2005.

The report said that Miller, a certified flight instructor, was with a student practicing an engine shutdown when the engine could not be restarted. When Miller returned to land the Piper Apache it "sustained substantial damage" but nobody was hurt, according to the report.

"That investigation is being conducted by the NTSB, and we are aware of a previous mishap with the pilot," NTSB investigator Van McKenny said.

McKenny was looking for answers to many questions including why Miller changed from a planned landing at Runway 5 to Runway 2 just before the crash. The Cessna 414A landed upside down.

"I have requested radar and the communications tapes, and we will be reviewing them in a couple of days once I am done with the on-scene portion of this investigation," McKenny said.

Hawaii Air Ambulance said the plane's engines went through a full overhaul last year, following the required maintenance schedule.

"Our maintenance records are among the highest in terms of the industry and meeting all federal regulations and standards," HAA Chief Executive Officer Andrew Kluger said.

Representatives from Cessna and the plane's engine manufacturer also visited the scene.

Tow trucks removed 12 BMWs that were destroyed when the plane crashed down on them.

The plane's wreckage was transferred from the BMW lot to the T-Hanger at Kahului Airport, where the investigation will continue over the weekend.

Hawaii Air Ambulance's four planes still are not flying. However, the company's personnel are working on chartered, private emergency aircraft and helping on Coast Guard air evacuations from neighbor islands.

Previous Stories:

• March 10, 2006: Authorities Investigate Deadly Air Ambulance Crash
• March 9, 2006: 3 Killed When Air Ambulance Crashes Into Maui Car Dealership

Copyright 2006 by TheHawaiiChannel.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.