Three people have been killed after a small plane crashed into the ocean off the coast of central California, authorities confirmed on Sunday. The victims were identified as Steve Clatterbuck, 60, of Salinas; James Vincent, 36, of Monterey; and Jamie Tabscott, 44, of Monterey.
The twin-engine Beech 95-B55 Baron took off from San Carlos Airport at 10.11pm local time on Saturday and was last seen at 10.37pm near Monterey, according to flight tracking data from FlightAware.com. Witnesses at Point Pinos in Monterey County reported hearing an aircraft engine revving and a splash in the water, with debris later washing ashore.
The US Coast Guard responded late Saturday after reports of a plane down about 300 yards off Point Pinos. Coast guard boat and helicopter crews, assisted by local law enforcement and fire agencies, recovered the bodies of the three local residents. The victims were all from the Monterey area.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash. The cause of the incident remains unknown.
