Incident Overview
An aviation accident occurred when a seaplane collided with a mountain slope located north of San Luis Obispo. The aircraft was engaged in a search operation for an overdue vessel along the California coastline at the time of the incident.
Operational Conditions
The flight was conducted under marginal weather conditions, specifically limited visibility caused by fog. The crew was actively searching the coastal area when the collision took place. The restricted visibility likely contributed to the difficulty of navigating the terrain safely during the search mission.
Casualties and Rescue
The crash resulted in significant loss of life and required a rescue operation for the surviving personnel. Three members of the crew were killed in the accident. Five other individuals on board were successfully rescued following the impact.
Deceased Personnel
The investigation identified the three crew members who perished in the incident as:
- LTJG Francis J. Charles
- AD3 William E. Prowitt
- AD3 John G. Medek