Pacific Grove, CA – On the night of Saturday, July 26, 2025, a small plane crashed off the coast of Monterey County, killing two from Monterey and one from Salinas, according to KRON.
The victims of the crash have been identified as:
- Steve Eugene Clatterbuck, 60, of Salinas
- James Vincent, 36, of Monterey
- Jamie Lee Tabscott, 44, of Monterey
The U.S. Coast Guard stated the crash occurred around 10:37 PM, approximately 200 to 300 yards off the shore of Point Pinos, near the city of Pacific Grove.
The twin-engine Beechcraft 55 Baron, registered under tail number N8796R, departed San Carlos Airport in San Mateo County at 10:11 PM and was expected to arrive at Monterey Regional Airport at 10:37 PM. The aircraft went down before completing its scheduled landing.
Responders from the Coast Guard, Cal Fire, and multiple local agencies launched a search and rescue mission shortly before 11:00 PM. A Monterey Fire Department boat crew located Clatterbuck’s unresponsive body in the water at about 3:08 AM on Sunday.
Cal Fire personnel deployed a drone that discovered the fuselage, with Vincent and Tabscott still inside, just before 6:00 AM. Commercial divers retrieved both remaining victims by 9:08 AM.
Search teams covered roughly 100 square miles of ocean during the response.
Federal Aviation Administration records show that SEA2SKY AVIATION LLC, based in Dover, Delaware, is the registered owner of the aircraft.
The National Transportation Safety Board has begun an investigation into the circumstances of the crash.
Wrongful Death Claims and Airplane Crashes
Pilots have a responsibility for the well-being of their passengers and can be held financially liable if evidence shows their negligence to be responsible for an airplane crash, causing death or injury. In some cases, liability may also be shared with the aircraft’s owner or its manufacturer if equipment failure contributed to the crash. A Wrongful Death claim against these parties can compensate grieving families for damages like funeral costs, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.
California Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, contact a California Wrongful Death Lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
