Three people have died after a small aircraft crashed into the sea off the central California coast, authorities have confirmed. The twin-engine Beech 95-B55 Baron went down approximately 300 yards (275 metres) from Point Pinos in Monterey County on Saturday night.
The US Coast Guard recovered the bodies of the three local residents, who were identified as Steve Clatterbuck, 60, of Salinas, and James Vincent, 36, and Jamie Tabscott, 44, both of Monterey. Emergency crews were dispatched after reports of a plane down at around 10.37pm local time.
Witnesses at Point Pinos reported hearing an aircraft engine revving followed by a splash in the water, according to local broadcaster KSBW. Debris from the crashed plane was later seen washing ashore.
Flight tracking data from FlightAware.com showed the aircraft had taken off from San Carlos Airport at 10.11pm and was last detected near Monterey at 10.37pm. The Coast Guard launched boat and helicopter crews to search for the victims, with assistance from local law enforcement and fire agencies.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
