Image courtesy: Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office
RICHMOND –
A preliminary report on a deadly place crash over San Pablo Bay states the two pilots chatted about a possible picture before the incident.
The April 27 crash killed David Plumb, flying a Cessna. The Cessna was clipped by a Hawker Sea Fury. The two planes had both been at an open house for an airport near Half Moon Bay. That Sunday evening, they both left and later ended up over the same airspace near Port Richmond.
The pilot of the Sea Fury told National Transportation Safety Board, after leaving Half Moon Bay he met up with another pilot and their Beechcraft plane for a photo shoot over the Golden Gate Bridge. The two flew several patterns over the bridge, and finished their photo work.
The Sea Fury then headed home, to Eagle’s Nest Airport in Ione. The pilot told the NTSB the Cessna pilot responded over a broadcast frequency his location. The Sea Fury pilot says he made visual contact with the Cessna, which was ahead of him. He says he told the Cessna pilot he would pass low and to the left. According to the report, the Cessna pilot told the Sea Fury pilot “it would be a good picture”. The Sea Fury pilot reportedly replied to the Cessna pilot that it would “probably not” be good, because of their speed differential.
The report says the Sea Fury at that time proceeded on a path that the pilot thought would allow adequate separation. However, as he passed the Cessna, he told the NTSB he felt and heard a thump, and realized there was a collision.
He pulled up and saw the Cessna inverted and going down behind him. The Sea Fury pilot concentrated on making sure his plane was ok, and wanted to avoid landing in populated areas. He decided to fly to the Ione airport.
The NTSB report states visual meteorological conditions prevailed, meaning the weather conditions were such that there was sufficient visibility to fly maintaining visual separation from terrain and other aircraft. The report also says no flight plans had been filed for either aircraft.
The wreckage of the Cessna was recovered a few days after the collision. Investigators say they have not recovered the left wing or propeller.
Read the full NTSB preliminary report here.
