Coroner identifies woman found dead near where small plane crashed in ocean south of San Francisco
HALF MOON BAY, California — A woman whose body was found in the water near where a small plane crashed into the ocean off the coast of California was identified Tuesday as a 27-year-old San Francisco resident. Federal officials now say there were likely four people on board the plane.
The crash was reported Sunday around 7 p.m. by a 911 caller who said the single-engine plane was in apparent distress and appeared to be descending toward the water near Half Moon Bay, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman’s body was spotted floating in the water nearby by the crew of a commercial fishing boat on Monday morning. The San Mateo County Coroner’s Office identified her as Emma Willmer-Shiles, 27, of San Francisco.
It was not immediately known whether the woman was on the plane, but the sheriff’s office said in a statement that “it is believed she is likely associated with the plane crash as she was at the same location.”
The National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement Tuesday that “reports indicate the aircraft was carrying the pilot and three other people.”
The Federal Aviation Administration had previously said two people were believed to be aboard the Cozy Mark IV, a four-seat light aircraft that can be built from a kit. Only one body has been recovered in the Ross Cove area, about 25 miles south of San Francisco.
The U.S. Coast Guard said a helicopter and boat crew searched a 73-square-mile area for nearly six hours before calling off the search mid-morning Monday. Willmer-Shiles’ body was found a few hours later.
A witness, Melissa Richter, told KRON-TV that she was dining on a patio at the Moss Beach Distillery when she heard an engine losing power, “like you hear in the movies when a plane is about to crash.” to deposit.” Richter said the plane came over the top of the building and she heard the engine stall before it disappeared from view.
The NTSB said its investigators were on scene Tuesday to document the wreckage and interview witnesses. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.