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The FAA is investigating the crash; it may take a considerable amount of time to determine the cause. They released these preliminary findings on the 7th:

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On June 17, 2008, approximately 1225 Hawaiian standard time, a Cessna 172M, N13713, was substantially damaged following impact with terrain near Pahala, Hawaii. The commercial pilot and his two passengers were fatally injured. Above It All, Inc., d.b.a. Island Hoppers, was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the pilot's departure from Kailua-Kona, which was the point of the flight's origination approximately 2 hours before the accident. A VFR flight plan had been filed and opened for the island circumnavigation air tour flight.

When the airplane did not return to Kailua-Kona at its scheduled time, a search was commenced. By the following day, the search became an Island wide multi-agency search. On June 22, approximately 0600, the airplane was located. The airplane was found in a rain forest on the southeastern side of the volcano, Mauna Loa.