Three individuals on a small plane tragically lost their lives when the aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean near the central coast of California over the weekend, officials reported.
Responding to reports just before 11 p.m. on Saturday, emergency crews were dispatched to a twin-engine Beechcraft aircraft that had gone down roughly 300 yards from Point Pinos in Monterey County, according to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Coroner Unit identified the people aboard as Steve Eugene Clatterbuck, 60, from Salinas, James Vincent, 36, from Monterey, and Jamie Lee Tabscott, 44, also from Monterey.
The Beechcraft B-95-B55 aircraft had taken off from the San Carlos airport at 10:11 p.m. and was last seen at 10:36 p.m. near Monterey, according to flight tracking data from FlightAware.com.
A fire boat crew recovered the first body just after 3 a.m. Sunday. Divers found the two other victims inside the fuselage of the aircraft between 6:30 a.m. and 9:10 a.m.
Coast Guard crews searched the waters for about 13 hours, with help from local law enforcement and fire crews. (AIO FILMZ)
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said the victims’ families have asked for privacy during this time.
“The family and friends of the deceased have expressed that they wish to extend their gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community,” the sheriff’s office said.
