It’s not a night that often the Monterey coast is lit up by rescue boats, helicopters, and drones but Saturday night gave a movie set, just off the historic Point Pinos Lighthouse. At about 10:55 p.m., the Coast Guard station in Monterey received the call: a twin-engine Beechcraft, with three aboard, had crashed 200 to 300 yards off-shore. The aircraft had departed San Carlos airport at 10:11 p.m., its final radar contact off Monterey at 10:37 p.m., per FlightAware tracking reports. Destination? Gooding Municipal Airport in Idaho, its plan to return to Monterey the following day.
As news broke, the Coast Guard moved fast. A 29-foot response boat was sent out and was on the scene within 15 minutes. They weren’t alone in doing it either a San Francisco Air Station MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, a Monterey Fire Department vessel, a CAL Fire vessel, and two Cal Fire drones assisted with the search. The Pacific Grove Police and Monterey County Sheriff’s Office were rapidly deployed to assist. The response of the agencies was swift and seamless, attesting to the rigorous protocol that controls Coast Guard maritime search and rescue. As one congressional report described it, “The SAR mission is one that the Coast Guard performs on a daily basis, and it is a mission central to what our Coast Guard is: a service of guardians willing to risk their own lives to save those in peril.” The service assists tens of thousands of individuals in distress annually and rescues thousands of lives.
The search was not simple. Witnesses had overheard the roar of the engine and then a splash. Driftwood began to materialize along Asilomar State Beach in the morning, such as one or more wheels from the plane. One unconscious individual was rescued at 3 a.m. by a boat crew. Divers pulled out the final two people from the wreckage of the Beechcraft at dawn. All three were found to be Steve Eugene Clatterbuck, 60; James Vincent, 36; and Jamie Lee Tabscott, 44 Monterey area resident who was popular in Monterey community. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office released, “The family and friends of the deceased have expressed that they wish to extend their gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community.” The NTSB and coroner have opened an investigation into the cause of the crash.
For residents of Monterey Bay and airplane enthusiasts, such accidents attract a combination of shock, despair, and fear. It would be expected that the security of small airplanes should be called into question when there is tragedy occurring so close to home. But context is everything: the odds of dying in a commercial air accident were about 1 in 13.7 million from 2018 to 2022 a smaller risk than for most normal activities, like driving, that the National Safety Council estimates at 1 in 95. General aviation, comprised of private small planes, does have higher accident rates, although these have declined consistently since the 1980s. “Statistics show that up to 80 percent of all aviation accidents can be attributed to human error,” reports the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, with pilot mistake, machinery failure, and weather as the primary causes of most crashes.
In terms of rescue, the Coast Guard’s procedures are time-proven and always changing. Advanced search and rescue (SAR) operations depend on quick deployment, open communication, and growingly, emerging technology. Drone technology and artificial intelligence are now starting to transform the way search areas are scanned and prioritized, particularly in demanding conditions such as at night or in fog. As one recent report has noted, “Remotely controlled aircraft provide real-time situational awareness with advanced sensors and imaging that relay detailed information, reducing the time required to locate and rescue individuals in distress.” AI and UASs could be to conventional SAR what the binoculars had become to standing a simple look-out watch, being able to see much farther than previously been possible with the naked eye.
For those who are fearful of flying or disturbed by reports of the crash, don’t worry, experts advise us. “It’s completely normal and understandable for people to deal with fears around flying, especially after seeing incidents like these,” CBS News reported psychologist Harry Cohen as saying. Stress management techniques include avoiding disturbing news, breathing and grounding techniques, and keeping an eye on facts regarding aviation safety. Remember all the things that you know about flying, because you’ve flown for many, many years and it is a very safe means of transportation, Cohen said. Healthy distraction, reassurring conversation, and, if necessary, consulting with an expert can reestablish calm of mind.
While the NTSB conducts its investigation, the people of Monterey need not worry that any action was not taken to preserve human life and that each tragedy is greeted with an openness to learn, to change, and to protect those who traverse our air and sea.
