Plane Crash in Central California
Over the weekend, a tragic plane crash in the Pacific Ocean off Central California resulted in the deaths of three individuals. The incident occurred late Saturday night, just before 11 PM, involving a twin-engine Beechcraft aircraft that was about 300 yards from Point Pinos, according to authorities.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office coroner unit has identified the victims as 60-year-old Steve Eugene Clutterback from Salinas, 36-year-old Jamie Lee Tabscott, and another resident aged 44 from Monterey.
Flight tracking data indicated that the Beechcraft B-95-B55 took off from San Carlos Airport at 10:11 PM and was last detected near Monterey at 10:36 PM. Witnesses reported hearing the plane’s engine struggling for about 30 seconds before an unsettling “thump” resonated. Video evidence later showed debris from the aircraft scattered along the coastline.
Local law enforcement, fire agencies, and Coast Guard teams engaged in a rigorous search effort covering a vast area of 100 square miles for about 13 hours. They meticulously searched a 346-mile track line in pursuit of the victims.
Initially, the recovery team found the first body around 3 AM on Sunday. Subsequently, divers discovered two additional victims trapped within the aircraft’s fuselage between 6:30 AM and 9:10 AM.
Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has appealed for privacy for the families of the victims during this difficult time.
The sheriff’s office noted that the families have expressed gratitude for the community’s support amid this tragedy.
