Seal Beach : Death in Plane Crash Attributed to Drowning

A 50-year-old Westlake Village man killed Sunday in the crash of a small plane in the ocean near Seal Beach died of drowning, authorities said Monday.

John Therieau, a passenger in the plane, was apparently knocked unconscious when the two-seat aerobatic aircraft struck the water a mile southeast of the Seal Beach Pier, according to a spokeswoman for the Orange County coroner’s office.

The plane, piloted by Charles E. Mahan, 56, of Playa del Rey, crashed and sank in 45 feet of water near Chevron’s oil island Esther.

Mahan, who suffered only minor injuries and managed to extricate himself from the plane, told federal accident investigators he tried unsuccessfully to get his friend out. Mahan was rescued by a private boat.

Therieau’s body was later recovered by Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol divers.

According to the investigators, Mahan and Therieau had taken off from Compton Airport at 12:35 p.m. and had headed out over the ocean to look at sailboats. Their plane crashed at 12:54 p.m.

Fishermen on the pier saw the crash and told a tackle shop employee, who notified lifeguards. None of the witnesses reported seeing the plane in trouble.

Wayne Pollack, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, said no “specific mechanical problems” were reported by Mahan before the accident.

The will probably be brought to the surface today. for a detailed inspection.