LAX97LA173

The pilot and pilot-rated passenger failed to return from a local scenic flight. Radar data was obtained for an aircraft that departed about the same time as the accident aircraft. It was observed in an area known to be a practice area of the owner/pilot. Witnesses saw an aircraft crash into the Pacific Ocean while maneuvering in that area near the time of flight. The aircraft was not found, and the injuries are presumed.

On April 29, 1997, about 1515 hours Pacific daylight time, a Christen/Shoaf Eagle II, N61GS, owned and operated by the pilot, is presumed to have crashed into the Pacific ocean about 13 nautical miles south-southeast of Half Moon Bay, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The pilot and his pilot rated passenger are presumed to have received fatal injuries.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a missing aircraft report (ALNOT), which reported the aircraft departed Half Moon Bay Airport for a 30-minute local scenic flight. The report stated that the pilot frequently practiced aerobatics between Martins Beach and San Gregorio Creek. According to San Mateo Sheriff information, there were two farm workers who observed an aircraft crash into the ocean after maneuvering in that area. The accident/incident location was reported as latitude 37 degrees 18.999 minutes and longitude 122 degrees 25.389 minutes.

According to FAA medical records, the pilot had taken a second-class flight physical on the day of the presumed accident. A note in the medical file stated that the pilot was to return to the examining physician with different glasses to verify his corrected vision.

Partial radar data was recovered for an aircraft departing Half Moon Bay Airport about the time of the reported departure of the accident aircraft. The aircraft was reporting a VFR transponder code of 1200 and was tracked south over the ocean until it was lost from radar.