Overview

• A twin-engine Beechcraft Baron carrying three people plunged into the ocean roughly 200–300 yards off Point Pinos Lighthouse during a nighttime approach to Monterey Regional Airport on July 26.
• Multi-agency teams from the U.S. Coast Guard, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, Pacific Grove Police, CAL FIRE and commercial divers conducted an hours-long search that shifted to recovery when two unresponsive occupants were initially located.
• Debris including a wheel, luggage and aircraft parts washed ashore at Asilomar State Beach, providing crucial evidence for investigators.
• By early July 28, crews had recovered all three occupants’ bodies and transferred wreckage and personal effects to the National Transportation Safety Board.
• The FAA’s Alert Notice triggered the response and the NTSB will lead a 12–24 month investigation of flight data and debris to determine the crash’s cause.