Plane crash off California coast claims three lives
- Emergency crews responded to reports of a plane crash involving a twin-engine Beechcraft near Point Pinos off the central California coast.
- The crash resulted in the deaths of three individuals, who were later identified by the coroner's office.
- The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, with the National Transportation Safety Board involved.
On Saturday night, July 26, 2025, a tragic incident occurred off the central California coast, when a small airplane crashed into the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. Coast Guard received reports of the incident just before 11 p.m., revealing that a twin-engine Beechcraft carrying three individuals had gone down approximately 300 yards off Point Pinos in Monterey County. Flight tracking data indicated that the aircraft had left San Carlos airport at 10:11 p.m. before it was last seen near Monterey at 10:36 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing the plane circling at a low altitude for around 30 seconds before a loud thump signaled its descent into the ocean. Emergency response teams, including Coast Guard boat and helicopter crews along with local law enforcement and fire agencies, initiated a search operation that spanned 13 hours and covered 346 miles of trackline over an area of about 100 square miles. The initial body was recovered shortly after 3 a.m. on Sunday, with divers subsequently locating the other two victims within the fuselage of the aircraft between 6:30 a.m. and 9:10 a.m. The victims were identified as Steve Eugene Clatterbuck, 60, of Salinas; James Vincent, 36, of Monterey; and Jamie Lee Tabscott, 44, of Monterey. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has stated that the families of the deceased have requested privacy during this difficult time, but they expressed gratitude for the community’s supportive response. As the search and recovery efforts concluded, the National Transportation Safety Board has commenced an investigation into the cause of this unfortunate crash. Details regarding potential maintenance issues, weather conditions, or pilot error remain unclear. The focus will be on obtaining flight data that might provide insight into the events leading up to the crash. While mourning the loss of the three individuals, the community and authorities alike are keen to uncover answers from this tragic incident.