Westlake Village Man Drowned After Plane Fell, Coroner Says
A 50-year-old Westlake Village man killed Sunday in the crash of a small plane in the ocean near Seal Beach drowned, authorities said Monday.
John Therieau was apparently knocked unconscious when the two-seat stunt plane in which he was a passenger 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 drilling island Esther.
Mahan, who suffered only minor injuries and escaped from the plane, told federal accident investigators that he tried unsuccessfully to get his friend out. Mahan was rescued by a private boat.
Therieau’s body was later recovered by divers with the Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol.
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