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Two killed, one missing after plane crashes off of Carlsbad coast
By: SARAH WILKINS and PAUL SISSON - Staff Writers | ∞
San Diego Coroner's Office officials and members of the Coast Guard unload the body of a female that was one of three people killed in a plane crash off the coast of Carlsbad on Sunday morning.
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CARLSBAD ---- A four-seat Cessna airplane crashed off the coast of Carlsbad shortly after taking off from McClellan-Palomar Airport Sunday morning, killing two female passengers and leaving a third male passenger missing, authorities said.
Update: Coast Guard ends search for body from plane
The San Diego County Medical Examiner's office did not release the names of the dead or missing by late Sunday night. According to data from the Federal Aviation Administration, the Cessna was registered to a man named Leroy F. Kochert, who has a Phoenix address.
A Coast Guard crew suspended its search for the missing passenger at 6 p.m. Sunday, and the crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, officials said. Calls to the home of a Leroy Kochert in Phoenix went unanswered Sunday.
A spokesman with the Federal Aviation Administration said the plane, a propeller-driven Cessna model 182Q built in 1979, left McClellan-Palomar Airport at 9:45 a.m., headed west, then crashed into the ocean at approximately 9:50 a.m. The crash occurred in deep water about one mile from shore.
An FAA spokesman said he would not speculate about the cause of the crash. Weather officials said a heavy marine layer blanketed the coast at the time of the crash.
Coast Guard officials and local lifeguards from Oceanside, Carlsbad, Solana Beach and Encinitas said boaters saw the plane go down and reported the accident to emergency personnel.
"I don't know if they heard (the distress call) over the radio, but three or four (boaters) saw the plane go down," said Petty Officer Anastasia Devlin, Coast Guard spokeswoman. The Coast Guard did not receive a mayday call, she added.
Dave Wagner, seasonal supervisor of Oceanside's lifeguard department, said Sunday that he arrived at the wreck about 10 minutes after it was reported.
"The first thing we noticed was the debris," he said. "There were wheels and parts of the fuselage and personal items floating in the water. It was pretty horrific to see," Wagner said.
Encinitas lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles said lifeguard Lt. Paul Chapman and senior lifeguard Joe Gaydos were the first to arrive at the crash site.
"They were able to grab two of the deceased," and put them aboard a fishing vessel that had arrived at the site of the crash, Giles said.
Chapman assessed the victims and pronounced them both dead, Giles said.
Though the wreckage sunk deep into the water, the crash left a field of debris floating in the area, including a wallet and flight log recovered by authorities, Giles said.
"Apparently for a while, (the plane was) submerged, then debris started floating up," he said.
News of the crash sent three lifeguards scrambling from the Solana Beach lifeguard station at Fletcher Cove.
Lt. Jason Shook said that when he and his two fellow lifeguards arrived at the site shortly after 10 a.m., it became apparent that recovering the plane would be difficult.
"The water out there was like 180 or 200 feet deep," Shook said, peeling off a dive suit after riding north to Oceanside harbor.
Shook said the scene on the water Sunday was grim.
"They recovered the bodies relatively quickly, but they were obviously deceased," Shook said.
Shortly after lifeguard teams arrived, two cutters and a helicopter with the U.S. Coast Guard arrived and continued to search for the Cessna's third passenger.
After searching for what Wagner estimated was "about two hours," one of the two cutters headed north to Oceanside Harbor where the Coast Guard maintains a small office and dock large enough to accommodate Coast Guard Cutter Petrel, a 109-foot vessel.
A somber scene unfolded in the harbor as grim-faced Coast Guard officers tied up to the dock and waited for a representative from the coroner's office to arrive. A small group of curious visitors watched as two wrapped bodies were carefully transferred from the Petrel into two white vans.
Wagner said searching the wreckage for the third occupant was frustrating.
"It's frustrating and it's disappointing. We like happy endings, and this one wasn't happy," Wagner said.
Allen Kenitzer, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said Sunday that the crash will be investigated by his agency and the National Transportation Safety Board.
"The NTSB looks for the accident's cause, and the FAA looks at records for the plane and for the pilot," Kenitzer said, adding that investigations can take up to one year.
He said that airplane accidents that occur in deep water are more difficult to investigate.
"If you have no aircraft because it's under water, that makes it certainly more difficult," Kenitzer said.
At the time of the crash, waves were 1 to 2 feet and the weather was extremely overcast, with a thick marine layer, Giles said.
National Weather Service meteorologist Dan Atkin said the Carlsbad airport reported cloudy, hazy skies with four miles of visibility on the ground. The base of the cloud cover was 700 feet from the ground and it was not windy, he said.
Contact Sarah Wilkins at (760) 761-4414 or swilkins@nctimes.com. Contact staff writer Paul Sisson at (760) 901-4087 or psisson@nctimes.com. Comment at nctimes.com.
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Sad loss wrote on Apr 29, 2007 3:26 PM:Sad loss of lives in yet another plane crash. Could have been worse had the plane gone down in densely populated Carlsbad, with more loss of lives. How safe are we?
Greg wrote on Apr 29, 2007 3:33 PM:very safe. now automobiles is another story - 38,000 killed yearly but the media would hardly let ya know that.
Phantom Blogger wrote on Apr 29, 2007 3:57 PM:Lets take up a collection to buy that writer a magic deflecting bubble to live in. If we take your slant on this to where you are going with it, lets close down the freeway, it's dangerous. Close down the train tracks, they are dangerous too, infact, the side walk in front of your home, has to go. Someone could slip on it. Dangerous. Can't have that. You can move to the middle of the desert. Oh, wait, a sand storm might bury you, no one would ever know ... Dangerous?
luvcarlsbad wrote on Apr 29, 2007 3:59 PM:to answer your question Sad Loss, we are extremely safe. how many people on the ground in Carlsbad have been hurt or killed by airplanes flying above? How safe are we on I-5 or I-15 or 78? A lot less. Tragic news nonetheless.
Thank you IluvCarlsbad wrote on Apr 29, 2007 4:43 PM:ou're right; I missed the point. Guess I was thinking of a friend lost in the PSA Crash in the 70's in San Diego. Tavelling I-5 yesterday, we witnessed multiple 'near' crashes, frightening sudden lane changes and tailgating on each others' bumpers. It's a wonder we got to Del Mar. Any crash, ground or sky is tragic. I don't have any 'solutions' except to hope I"m not in the wrong place at the wrong time.
M.R. wrote on Apr 29, 2007 6:06 PM:Why is it that when something tragic happens people always want to find someone or something to blame...it was an ACCIDENT. We've all experienced them. My prayers go out to the families and friends.
Carter: wrote on Apr 29, 2007 6:33 PM: If memory serves - the last time this happened it was caused by the wrong type of fuel. it seems with the wrong type of fuel the plane gets just of the coast before crashing. We shall see.
Missyou princess wrote on Apr 29, 2007 8:32 PM:This was my friend and her mom who were recovered. Please pray for her family and friends. We're devastated. It was a freak accident, please stop thinking about yourselves and think of her family and friends!
fallbrookhero wrote on Apr 29, 2007 8:34 PM:YES, THIS WAS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT.. GOOD THING MY DAD AND BROTHER WERE THE PEOPLE WHO REPORTED THE ACCIDENT!!! GOOD THING THEY DID A FATHER SON FISHING TRIP THIS MORNING... OOHRAH MARINES
Fred wrote on Apr 29, 2007 9:36 PM:Good point there Carter could be. Cessnas' have a bad rap because they are known to be involved in many aviation accidents but if you go to ANY general aviation airpot you will see that 80% of the planes out there are cessnas...That being said, if 80% of the vehicles on our roadways were honda accords then what would that do for the honda accord name? Just some FYI for people thinking "another cessna." As for the comment "how safe are we?" your safe. The standard departure is to proceed straight out until over the shoreline then turn either north south etc. At about 80mph-150mph you cover that area in less than a minute so it's pretty hard to hit anything in that short amount of time when your climbing AND still have airspeed to glide on.
Sad too wrote on Apr 29, 2007 9:42 PM:This is sad but they died doing something fun that they loved. Can't think of a better way to go except maybe in bed asleep or other wise occupied. How safe are? Not at all, we all die. How we die doesn't really matter in the end it is how we live that matters. My sympathies to their family and friends.
Real pilot wrote on Apr 29, 2007 9:49 PM:Whenever a aircraft crash occurs, people that are not pilots have lots of confusing thoughts about what might have caused it. I understand that. But "Sad" and "Moving", represent the worse elements that usually appear instantly. I cannot imagine what "Moving" means when he says he is "sick of it." Any movement from a state of rest automatically increases the chance of accident for us all. It appears that this pilot might have departed into less than optimum weather and may have had the same type of spatial disorientation over the ocean as Kennedy did at Marthas Vineyard so many years ago. We just don't know yet. Hopefully we will know in time. It is unfortunate this accident occurred and I feel for the families of the victims. General aviation in America is a huge industry with more flights and more passenger miles flown than all of the US registered air carriers combined every single year. There are bound to be accidents from time to time. But the vast majority of pilots work year around trying to prevent incidents with training, continuing education, safety seminars, testing, research and anything else that might help increase safety for all of us, not just pilots. Flying is a fantastic experience as a pilot. It is always a loss to the pilot community when someone crashes like this and we take it very seriously.
to the "real pilot" wrote on Apr 29, 2007 10:36 PM:It's unfortunate yes...but into the ocean is where accidents should take place. What if they were departing eastbound as often occurrs with wind direction change? Planes depart right over over our neigborhoods when weather conditions are far from ideal. That's why we want all planes directed in and out of the airport need to be over the ocean and commercial areas during the critical times of take off and landing. Yes accidents happen and that's why planes should NOT be flying over our homes as often as they do for especially for the majority of recreation and training flights out of Palomar.
Very unfortunate .. but.. wrote on Apr 29, 2007 11:40 PM:Then DON'T MOVE NEXT TO AN ACTIVE AIRPORT! .. or did you fall for that real estate agent line about "oh, that airport is going to be closed"? Yes, this whole thing is unfortunate. So is your blindsighted attitude.
Real pilot wrote on Apr 29, 2007 11:55 PM:"to the" The majority of the time, many neighborhoods didn't exist before the airports in many locations. Developers and individuals often bought the "cheaper" land around airports then developed and sold houses. This has been repeated all over the world. Why don't people check the area around the house they are buying for potential issues that would affect them while living there? I know I do. We cannot approach and land nor take off and depart without flying over countless business and private housing that did not exist years ago when so many airports were built. We do alter flight departure and arrival paths to increase safety to people on the ground as well as reduce noise impact. We do establish procedures to reduce the impact to neighborhoods. We do it voluntarily constantly. We try the best we can to safely operate into and out of airports. We work with surrounding neighborhood groups, city & state governments constantly so that we can be considered good neighbors in the area. The idea that we should establish routes so that we only crash over the ocean or a business area is horribly delusional on your part. You emphasize "NOT" fly over "our" homes. I guarantee you that you do "NOT" own the airspace over your home and many pilots live in neighborhoods near airports, so you incorrectly assume that your "homes" are all occupied by non-pilots. Try coming halfway on the issues you raise. Your chance of having an aircraft hit your house is infitesimally small. Heck, you have a much bigger chance of causing an accident while driving your own vehicle!
Charmaine wrote on Apr 30, 2007 1:27 AM:I live in Australia and my husband and I knew these wonderful people - they had a real sense of adventure and zest for life - they sailed across the Pacific in a small yacht - quite safely. They loved their little plane, were very safety conscious - we are devastated with this loss.
Peter & Charmaine wrote on Apr 30, 2007 2:23 AM:We met the Kocherts' where we live in the small seaside village of Lennox Head on the east coast of Australia 2 years back. These people were wonderful ambassadors for America and her people. We with our friends enjoyed their company on several occasions including a sail on their yacht Namche. The spirit of these adventurers who sailed across the Pacific from Mexico to Australia fits so well with the advenureous spirit of Australians and drew admiration wherever they went. They will be sadly missed here in Lennox Head and by all who met them on their travels along the eastern seaboard of this country.
Ford wrote on Apr 30, 2007 3:28 AM:Well thats it the airport is dangerous and it must be closed. Maybe we should all take the bus or ride a bike. On a serious note I hope that all the vitims had seatbelts and their tray tables in the upright position.
HBO in N.C. wrote on Apr 30, 2007 6:08 AM:It is plain ridiculous to assume that there would be less of a chance of a plane flying into a neighborhood if they always have Palomar's flight path taking off into the ocean. It depends on wind direction at that airport. You have MUCH more of a chance being killed by a car while walking down the sidewalk. Therefore, we should build large concrete barriers along both sides of the road? Get real, get a grip. Life is full of risks and your antidote is meaningless.
Unbelievable wrote on Apr 30, 2007 7:22 AM:I am simply amazed everyday when I read the comments section of news stories. Everyone becomes so self-absorbed and solely comments on their own agendas that they want to push. Whether it's politics, racism or whatever - people please stop being so selfish. The precious lives of some fine human beings who have nourished the lived of others have been lost and many of you have barely noticed it. Slow down, smell the roses and appreciate life and what it has to offer. Thank you.
luvcarlsbad wrote on Apr 30, 2007 7:44 AM:the jokes/flippant remarks about the victims are despicable. as for the airport, anybody who lives in a house built before 1957, feel free to complain. otherwise, move if you don't feel safe. the airport was there before you. Hope the Bressi Ranchers know there's an airport nearby.
dont live by the airport wrote on Apr 30, 2007 8:52 AM:This is stupud if you are worried about a plane falling on you dont buy a house by a airport. I am sick of people who want to close airports, race tracks and such after they buy a house there. Check what is around before you buy, then live with it. Pray for the family.
John E wrote on Apr 30, 2007 9:17 AM:I work in the Carlsbad Airport Centre business park and worry far less about the prospects of a wayward aircraft striking my office than about other potential dangers. We should strive to learn what we can about the causes of this tragedy, with the goal of saving the lives of others. General aviation is here to stay, but there is always room for improvement.
flower girl wrote on Apr 30, 2007 9:53 AM:I drove down to the beach (crash site) this morning and parked my car before work and prayed for the family, as I can relate by loosing of my mom in the American Airlines crash in Chicago in 1979. I have learned over the years you cant live in fear and these people obviously didnt, god bless the family and friends, my thoughts and prayers are with all of them. Also: we have to remember the silent hero's in this sad day, the ones who bring the loved ones and their personal belongings back to shore, they have a tough job and something they will never forget, god bless them too.
Sad in San Marcos wrote on Apr 30, 2007 10:15 AM:Gee, when I opened up this story, it seemed to me that it was about three people who tragically lost their lives in a small plane crash off the Carlsbad Coast and showcased the heroic efforts of lifeguards, up and down our north coastal area, to assist the Coast Guard in joining the search to recover their bodies. However, some people seem to think this story is about them. Stop being selfish. This isn't about you! Just look at the blog from Peter and Charmaine....these people lost dear friends. We should be rallying and supporting them in our comments, not sniping about what could have happened to us. Our prayers are with the families.
YOU'LL BE MISSED wrote on Apr 30, 2007 10:47 AM:MY UNCLE WAS PILOT THAT THEY HAVE NOT YET RECOVERED.HE WAS A WONDERFUL MAN AND A RESPONSIBLE PILOT AND HAD BEEN FOR MANY YEARS. I WOULD HAVE FLOWN WITH HIM ANY TIME. I LOVE YOU UNCLE LEE AND YOU WILL BE MISSED. PLEASE PRAY FOR HIS FAMILY
SAD, you started it wrote on Apr 30, 2007 11:26 AM:You started this thread by implying that the airplanes/airport were a threat to you soemhow. That is the selfish thing that transpired here. I'm certain the pilots&enthusiasts that are writing most of the replies care more than most about the loss of the people involved in this.
Another Pilot wrote on Apr 30, 2007 11:54 AM:So sorry for the loss of your Uncle and family members. Sounds like the bad weather only clear 700 feet off the ground was part of cause. Prayers with you.
Hint for homebuyers wrote on Apr 30, 2007 12:15 PM:If you notice a 4800' concrete pad in the neighborhood where you're shopping for that dream home....it ain't no patio! God bless those that were lost and their families.
Allison wrote on Apr 30, 2007 1:08 PM:Well allicat I guess I'll see you when it's my time : ) I love you with all my heart and you will never be forgotten. Let this be a reminder to us all to live each day to the fullest. You never know when it's your time to go...that is not in your hands.
Fellow Pilot wrote on Apr 30, 2007 1:16 PM:I was in the Mooney that departed just 4 min before the C-182 took off. I just wanted to say my heart goes out to the family of those lost. Sad Too said it best... "How we die doesn't really matter in the end it is how we live that matters."
Darcy wrote on Apr 30, 2007 2:49 PM:I would first like to start off with saying this, Life will not ever be the same, my family lost a daughter, and I a niece in that crash, so all of you sick individuals that like to make jokes, stop and think about it, and hopefully this tradgedy will never strike your family. She will be so missed! Our prayers our with the pilots family also.
Franklin wrote on Apr 30, 2007 3:06 PM:I used to fly out of Palomar Airport in the early 70's. Like many coastal airfields there is often a fog bank just off the end of the runway. It may be perfectly sunny on the tarmac and totally gray a half mile away. It can be deceptive. I have no idea if this had anything to do with the accident. I am very surprised at the number and tone of the remarks above but I have noticed that before in this paper. A "comments" section started out perhaps as a good idea for NCT but now it has degenerated into a shouting match (via the web)between some often truly strange, insensitive and inflamatory individuals, especially the regulars. In my opinion the NCT encourages these exchanges in an attempt to increase readership. Used to be that newspapers reported the news, now they manipulate and leach off of it.
Charliene wrote on Apr 30, 2007 3:36 PM:I am grieving for the loss of these three lives. I am praying for strength for the rescuers that have to search for the missing pilot and retrieve their belongings. I am ashamed of the selfish people writing on this page. May you rot in ....!! Save your anger for your anger management counselor and move away from all human life. These people have touched the hearts of so many and will dearly be missed. XOXOXO
To the Mooney pilot wrote on Apr 30, 2007 3:43 PM:Was it VFR conditions for the Cessna's straight out departure? Did he fly into the marine layer?
Meow's Friend Courtney... wrote on Apr 30, 2007 4:52 PM:Ali...you will be missed more than you will ever know! You are so loved and our lives are all better having known you. You will always be in my thoughts and prayers...
BonanzaPilot wrote on Apr 30, 2007 7:21 PM:Folks, Let's not be so rash as to attempt to solve the cause of this mishap or point fingers at pilots or the airport and its proximity to residential areas. Since there is no self-serve, the chances of wrong or contaminated fuel are minimal, and if the case, the FBO might be liable. Numbers of aircraft on the ramp bear little on accident data. The number you are looking for is usually expressed as mishaps per 100,000 flight hours. This evens up the field and gives a truer idea as to the safety record for individual model aircraft. Flying can go from an extremely safe, benign evolution to extremely dangerous in a matter of seconds. Let's let the NTSB do their job and if it turns out to be pilot error, let's learn from it so these folks' and their families' loss won't be in vain.
To the Inquisitor.. wrote on Apr 30, 2007 7:44 PM:The pilot filed an IFR flight plan, that aircraft departed on an IFR flight, into known IFR conditions. The marine layer was 700 AGL in some areas, the aircraft (seemed to) experience some sort of incident that lead to this sad disaster. The aircraft was leased for two years while the owner was out of the country, I think it's owed to the aviation community to find out what went wrong and if it's good enough for JFK jr., it should be good enough for any citizen. This really, really sucks. Very sad.
Also a Pilot - to the lovers and haters wrote on Apr 30, 2007 8:35 PM:Just because an airport was there first does not mean that the airport has some inalienable right to exist. The adjoining lnad owners have a right to enjoy there land as well, regardless of the fact that they build 30, 40 or 50 years after the airport was built. This is the actual law, like it or not. On the flip side, the airport can not unreasonablly infringe on the rights of surrounding property owners.
Alex we love you wrote on Apr 30, 2007 10:10 PM:These were AMAZING people and your concern is about the politics of the airport. Shut up, you're pissing off those of us who knew Alex and her family. There is no word to describe the loss we feel, beautiful can't even begin to encompass Alex. It was a catastrophic event, let us grieve.
Blessings to the Family wrote on May 1, 2007 9:34 AM:I am so sorry for this great loss to your family and to the community. May you all find peace during this trying time.
GT in CBAD wrote on May 1, 2007 11:05 AM:It would be interseting to know if there are more accidents on the weekends than during the week, or if the event was truly weather related. I have lived near many small airports, and it seems that most accidents occur on the weekends. I was playing golf in New Jersey when a Cessna crashed into the 17th green at Miry Run, on a Sunday
mountain goat wrote on May 3, 2007 7:05 PM:such a sad and sudden loss....uncle lee was an inspiration to all of us who knew him...there is some peace knowing that he is now part of the ocean, something that was a vital force in his life...
Scott wrote on May 7, 2007 10:08 AM:God bless Lee and his family. I flew with Lee in the past and he was an excellent pilot and a great man. He enjoyed all that he experienced in life from the mountains to the seas. Our prayers are with Lee, his family and all those whose life they touched.
Sending Love, wrote on May 18, 2007 11:49 PM:My heart goes to the family and friends who lost their loved ones in the crash. After watching the news and reading about it I felt so sad about the horrible tragedy. Many prayers, strength, comfort, love,faith and hope to the family and friends. Remember the good memories of your loved ones forever in your hearts. May you find comfort and love among your family and friends. May their be a light at the end of the tunnel.
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