What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 9/7/2005 at 1228 PST, Cessna 172RG, N9636B, impacted the pacific ocean approximately two miles from west end point on Catalina island. Two occupants on board, one confirmed fatality, the second occupant was not found and is presumed deceased. Aircraft sank to a depth of approximately 300 feet. Minor debris was located to include life jackets, foam and interior material, and a tire. Two fisherman were witnesses to the event, reported aircraft was in a 45 degree angle dive, impacted the water under power at approximately a 60 degree angle, remained intact, and sank. Subsequent search of the area did not have success in locating the second aircraft occupant or the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 9/7/2005 AT 1228 PST, CESSNA 172RG, N9636B, IMPACTED THE PACIFIC OCEAN APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES FROM WEST END POINT ON CATALINA ISLAND. TWO OCCUPANTS ON BOARD, ONE CONFIRMED FATALITY, THE SECOND OCCUPANT WAS NOT FOUND AND IS PRESUMED DECEASED. AIRCRAFT SANK TO A DEPTH OF APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET. MINOR DEBRIS WAS LOCATED TO INCLUDE LIFE JACKETS, FOAM AND INTERIOR MATERIAL, AND A TIRE. TWO FISHERMAN WERE WITNESSES TO THE EVENT, REPORTED AIRCRAFT WAS IN A 45 DEGREE ANGLE DIVE, IMPACTED THE WATER UNDER POWER AT APPROXIMATELY A 60 DEGREE ANGLE, REMAINED INTACT, AND SANK. SUBSEQUENT SEARCH OF THE AREA DID NOT HAVE SUCCESS IN LOCATING THE SECOND AIRCRAFT OCCUPANT OR THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.