2 Rescued After Plane Crashes Into Ocean

The pilot of a twin-engine seaplane and his passenger were in stable condition after being plucked from the water by lifeguards after their plane crashed into the ocean near Long Beach’s Belmont Pier Saturday afternoon.

Hundreds of people on the beach, pier and pleasure boats out on the sunny day witnessed the spectacle as the seaplane flew over the beach at low altitude, swerved into the ocean and flipped over about 800 yards west of the pier about 1/4 mile off shore. The crash occurred at about 1:30 p.m.

“There were a lot of front-row spectators,” Lifeguard Sgt. Grant Jeffries said.

Long Beach Lifeguards Capt. Randall Davis said pilot Richard Probert, 40, and passenger Becky Counterman, 36, both of Long Beach, had donned flotation jackets and had gotten out of the sinking amphibian Grumman Goose by the time lifeguards reached them.

Probert, who told rescuers the plane may have run out of gas, injured his leg in the crash and Counterman suffered facial cuts. After first aid, both were taken to St. Mary’s Hospital where they were listed in stable condition.