Three men died Saturday night when their small aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Pacific Grove, California. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims as Steve Eugene Clatterbuck, 60, of Salinas; James Vincent, 36, of Monterey; and Jamie Lee Tabscott, 44, of Monterey.
The twin-engine Beechcraft B-55 Baron departed from San Carlos Airport at approximately 10:07 p.m. on July 26, heading to Monterey Regional Airport. The aircraft crashed into the ocean near Point Pinos, approximately 200 to 300 yards offshore near Sunset Drive and Jewell Avenue, around 10:38 p.m.
Witnesses reported hearing the aircraft engine loudly revving before impact. Ron Beach, a local resident, said, “We heard it come around a second time really low. Last thing we heard was a thump.” Brian Mitchell, visiting from Sacramento, described hearing loud engine grumbling that sounded like the aircraft was flying directly over his house, followed by a pop.
Emergency responders were alerted at 10:37 p.m. following a lost radar alert and multiple 911 calls from nearby residents. The Coast Guard Station Monterey dispatched a 29-foot response boat, which arrived at the crash site within 15 minutes. An Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew also joined the search operation.
The search and recovery operation covered approximately 100 square miles and involved multiple agencies, including the Monterey Fire Department, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, Pacific Grove Police, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, and Cal Fire. Two Coast Guard helicopters, multiple boat crews, divers, drones, and flares were deployed during the 13-hour operation.
At 3:08 a.m. Sunday, the Monterey Fire Boat 12 located the first victim unresponsive in the water. The aircraft fuselage was discovered by a Cal Fire drone just before 6 a.m. Commercial divers recovered the first body from the fuselage at approximately 6:30 a.m. and recovered the second by 9:08 a.m., according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Ryan Graves.
Aircraft debris began washing ashore hours after the crash, including the plane’s wheel and other parts at the nearby state beach Sunday morning. Community members assisted by tracking debris and other items like bags, chairs, and oxygen tanks as they washed up on shore.
Vincent owned the Aquarius Dive Shop in Monterey and appears to have been piloting the aircraft. According to his Facebook posts, Vincent had recently obtained his multi-engine rating certification in February. The twin-engine Beechcraft was purchased in January under the company name Sea2Sky Aviation, LLC, registered in Delaware.
Clatterbuck listed himself as a retired scuba instructor on his Facebook page and had worked in the heating and sheet metal business. All three men were known in the local diving community for their love of the ocean.
The aircraft was manufactured in 1974 and registered to a Delaware aviation company. Flight tracking data shows the plane was last seen at 10:37 p.m. near Monterey, with weather conditions showing a ceiling of 800 to 900 feet at the time of the crash.
The local community has expressed grief over the loss of the three men. Flowers were placed in front of the Aquarius Dive Shop to honor Vincent’s memory. Laurie Huelga, communications manager for the city of Monterey, described Vincent as kind-hearted, fair, smart, ambitious, and adventurous, noting his warm smile and steadfast presence would be missed by many in the community.
Bart Cutino, son of the Sardine Factory’s owner, wrote on Facebook that he was heartbroken to hear about Vincent’s passing after having hired him 20 years ago, describing him as a special person with entrepreneurial and adventurous spirit. The Monterey Moose Family Center posted that Vincent was the kind of person who made others feel like they mattered and brought calm, laughter, and common sense to conversations.
Melissa Johnson, who identified herself as Clatterbuck’s stepdaughter on Facebook, noted that both Clatterbuck and Vincent were adventurers who lived life to the fullest, whether in the air, underwater, or on land.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash. An NTSB investigator was expected to be on scene Monday to begin documenting the scene and examining the aircraft once recovery efforts are completed. A preliminary report is typically available within 30 days of an accident, though timing depends on when the aircraft is recovered and when investigators gain access to it.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office stated that the families and friends of the victims wish to extend their gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community while asking for privacy during this difficult time.
Sources:
https://abc7news.com/post/pacific-grove-plane-crash-beechcraft-be55-san-carlos-headed-monterey-regional-airport-crashes-central-coast/17322268/
https://www.ksbw.com/article/search-plane-crashes-pacific-grove-coast/65520276
https://www.montereycountynow.com/blogs/news_blog/james-vincent-owner-of-aquarius-dive-shop-is-one-of-three-victims-identified-in-pacific/article_8d9cc00c-18fb-49eb-b39a-412f506d17b7.html
https://www.montereyherald.com/2025/07/28/monterey-peninsula-community-has-fond-memories-of-plane-crash-victims/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/28/three-people-killed-small-airplane-crash-california
https://kion546.com/news/2025/07/27/three-people-dead-after-plane-crash-just-offshore-of-pacific-grove/
