Accident Overview
On a cross-country Event Based Currency (EBC) flight, an airplane crashed into the Pacific Ocean approximately 2 miles from the north end of an off-shore island. The pilot, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector (operations), sustained fatal injuries. The safety airman, who also served as a designated pilot examiner (DPE), is missing and presumed to have sustained fatal injuries. The airplane sank, was not located or recovered, and is presumed destroyed.
Flight Details
The currency flight departed Avalon Airport about 1220 local time, bound for the flight's origin airport. This flight was part of the inspector's FAA currency requirements. Avalon Airport's elevation is 1,602 feet mean sea level (msl).
Radar Data
Recorded radar data revealed a target with a secondary 1200 visual flight rules (VFR) beacon code, reporting an altitude of 1,800 feet msl just west of the departure end of runway 22. The target climbed on a westerly course and then made a right turn toward the north. After reaching the shoreline, the target turned left toward the northwest and followed the shoreline. During the last minute of flight, the target's altitude remained at mode C reported altitudes between 2,600 and 2,800 feet until the target disappeared near the accident site coordinates, which were in line with the target's track.
Eyewitness Accounts
Two fishermen in a boat reported observing the airplane in at least a 45-degree nose-low attitude. The attitude then rose to 30 degrees nose-low just prior to impacting the water. They observed the airplane float at the surface for a few seconds before it sank. They reached the accident site approximately 90 seconds later and observed one victim in the water, whom they pulled aboard.
Conclusion
The accident investigation did not specify a probable cause. The aircraft was not recovered, limiting the information available for analysis.