HONOLULU — A preliminary report by federal aviation investigators says a small plane crash-landed off Oahu because of an empty fuel tank.
According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, pilot Greg Harding intended to put fuel into the tank after the Sept. 24 flight.
Harding, a former Alaska bush pilot, was flying the Piper PA-25-260 to tow an engineless glider.
Harding told the National Transportation Safety Board he released the glider at 3,000 feet, then began descending and lost engine power at about 2,000 feet.
Harding was not injured when he landed on the ocean. He initially planned to land on the beach, but opted for the ocean after seeing people on shore.
The Piper belongs to the North Shore Aircraft Leasing Co.
Harding moved to Honolulu from Kotzebue, Alaska, nearly a year ago.
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