The crash of a Hawai'i Air Ambulance into a Kahului, Maui, car dealership last year that killed three people was likely caused by the failure of the pilot to execute an emergency procedure for a twin-engine airplane when it loses power in one engine, according to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The report concluded the Cessna 414A lost power in its left engine for unknown reasons, and a contributing factor in the crash was the pilot's "inadequate pilot training." Pilot Peter Miller reported the loss of power in one engine shortly before the plane crashed about a half-mile from the approach end of the Maui airport runway.

Killed in the March 8, 2006, crash were Miller, 32, of Kailua; assistant chief flight nurse Brien Eisaman, 37, of Waipahu; and Marlena Yomes, 38, a mobile intensive care technician from Wai'anae.

The three were on a mission to Maui to transport a critically ill patient to O'ahu when the plane crashed at 7:13 p.m.

Witnesses reported to NTSB investigators that just before the crash the airplane's wings wobbled, and the Cessna dropped straight down into the BMW car dealership before exploding and burning.

According to the NTSB report last week, Miller's failure to maintain minimum controllable airspeed in keeping with published operating procedures after an engine failure led to a stall and subsequent roll at a low altitude.

Hawai'i Air Ambulance did not respond to a request for comment made to the company's Honolulu office yesterday.

The Maui crash was the second fatal incident for Hawai'i Air Ambulance.

On Jan. 31, 2004, a Cessna 414A crashed in dense forest 25 miles northwest of Hilo, killing all three on board.

The NTSB declared pilot error was also the likely cause of the crash, which killed pilot Ron Laubacher, 38; Honolulu firefighter Joseph "Danny" Villiaros, 39; and Emergency Medical Services district supervisor Mandy Shiraki, 47.