Newport Beach : Irvine Man Killed When Plane Crashes Into Sea
An Irvine man was killed Friday night when the small private plane he was flying plunged into the ocean off the Balboa Peninsula, county Harbor Patrol officials said.
The victim was identified as Hallegere Narasinha Murthy, 48. His body was pulled from the wreckage of the single-engine Cessna 150 just after noon Saturday by Orange County Sheriff’s Department divers. The plane was registered to the R.I. Flying Club in Fullerton.
Murthy took off from Fullerton Airport Friday night and landed at John Wayne Airport at about 7 p.m., according to Lt. George Johnson of the Newport Beach Harbor Patrol.
Witnesses told police that the plane crashed into the ocean 200 yards west of the Balboa Pier about 8:30 p.m. and sank immediately.
A combined Coast Guard and Harbor Patrol search, using boats and helicopters, continued until about 3 a.m. and resumed at sunrise. The plane was found in 40 feet of water.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
