US: Three dead in Pacific Grove plane crash

On July 26, three Monterey County residents were confirmed dead after a twin-engine plane crashed into the waters off Pacific Grove, in what local officials have described as a devastating loss for the community.

The US Coast Guard told US media 8 that the bodies of all three victims were recovered following an intensive overnight search operation involving multiple emergency agencies, Caliber.Az reports.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office identified the deceased as Steve Clatterbuck, 60, of Salinas; James Vincent, 36, of Monterey; and Jamie Tabscott, 44, also of Monterey.

The aircraft—a Beechcraft bearing tail number N8796R—departed San Carlos Airport around 10:07 p.m., bound for Monterey Regional Airport. Just over 30 minutes later, it plunged into the ocean roughly 200 to 300 yards off Point Pinos, near Sunset Drive and Jewell Avenue.

Eyewitnesses in the area reported hearing the plane's engines revving loudly before a splash echoed across the shoreline.

“I was going to sleep and heard this loud engine grumbling,” said Brian Mitchell, a Sacramento resident visiting family. “It kind of felt like it was over the house, and there was a pop.”

Emergency services were alerted at 10:37 p.m., prompted by a lost radar signal and 911 calls from residents.

The Coast Guard quickly deployed a response boat from Station Monterey, arriving at the crash site within 15 minutes. A rescue helicopter from Air Station San Francisco also assisted in the effort.

At around 3 a.m. July 27, Monterey Fire Boat 12 located the first victim in the water. A CAL FIRE drone later pinpointed the plane’s fuselage, leading to the recovery of the remaining two victims by a commercial dive team at first light.

Aircraft debris began washing ashore by morning. Local authorities, including the Monterey Fire Department, Pacific Grove Police, San Mateo and Monterey County Sheriff’s Offices, CAL FIRE, and the Community Emergency Response Team, remained on scene awaiting investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

By Aghakazim Guliyev