A small plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Half Moon Bay, California, on Saturday, killing two people on board. Reports state that it’s possible that the Viking Air DHC-6-400 Twin Otter had a fuel system that let it travel further than its primary fuel tanks would have allowed.
Sarah Sulick, a spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board, stated that investigators are examining the possibility of fuel-related issues. According to reports, the plane was experiencing problems with its fuel, leading investigators to look into the possibility of ‘fuel starvation,’ which could suggest a difficulty with the ferry tanks in supplying fuel to the main tanks.
The turboprop aircraft, en route from Santa Rosa in Sonoma County to Honolulu, Hawaii, was roughly 40 miles (64 km) off the coast of Half Moon Bay when it crashed around 2:15 p.m. Saturday. The U.S. Coast Guard recovered the submerged plane and confirmed that the pilot and copilot had died in the incident. The identities of the victims have yet to be made public.
Crews are presently working to retrieve the wreckage from the ocean. Half Moon Bay is situated approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of San Francisco, near the crash site. The accident investigation is still ongoing, and additional details will be released as they become available.
