Two Die as Plane Crashes Near Boats

A small plane crashed into the sea near competitor Brad Van Liew of Los Angeles five hours after the start of the third leg of the Around Alone single-handed race from Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday. An Italian amateur stunt pilot and his wife were killed.

Van Liew, a professional pilot who operates an air charter business at Santa Monica Airport, had noticed the plane circling the fleet earlier and described it as a white, two-seat, experimental-kit plane. He didn’t see it crash but was alerted by fellow competitor Giovanni Soldini of Italy, an acquaintance of the pilot who was sailing about half a mile away.

Apparently, the pilot, identified as Lucieno Nustrini, an Auckland architect, was following Soldini for the first few miles when the plane hit the water upside down.

Van Liew changed course to the site of the crash, but the plane had sunk. He reported by satellite phone that he saw no debris but could smell aviation fuel.

After notifying the New Zealand coast guard of the incident, Van Liew remained in the vicinity for about 10 minutes before authorities released him from the scene. Later, two bodies were recovered.

Van Liew, 30, sailing his 50-foot boat Balance Bar and representing the California Yacht Club, is the only American remaining in the quadrennial race around the world.

At the halfway point, after two legs, Van Liew was in third place in Class II for boats 50 feet and under, more than seven days behind leader Jean-Pierre Mouligne of France in cumulative time but only 1 1/2 hours behind Mike Garside of Britain.

After the first day of Leg 3, Van Liew had an eight-mile lead in Class II and was within sight of the leaders in Class I’s 60-foot boats. Winds were light.

The overall leader is Isabelle Autissier of France, who is about six hours ahead of countryman Marc Thiercelin.

The third leg, through the Southern Ocean to Cape Horn, is 5,960 nautical miles to Punta del Este, Uruguay.