Hawaii-Bound Cessna Ditches in Pacific After Running Out of Fuel
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By: Matt Molnar
Tags: Cessna 310, ditch, Hilo International Airport (ITO), Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY), N23BT
A twin-engine plane flying to Hawaii’s Big Island from California was forced to ditch into the Pacific Ocean Friday evening local time. The pilot was the only person on board and was uninjured.
The twin-engined Cessna 310 (N23BT) aircraft was about 12 hours into its flight from Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY) to Hilo International Airport (ITO) when the pilot, a 65-year-old man, according to Hawaii News Now, radioed the Coast Guard for to advise he might run out of fuel about 35 miles east of Hilo and be forced to ditch into the ocean.
A US Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and the Cutter Kiska rescued the pilot immediately after ditching 13 miles northeast of Hilo and transported him to Hilo Medical Center.
