California: 4 Dead Following Kit-Built Electric Plane Crash
Tragedy struck off the California coast near Moss Beach as an engaged couple was among the four victims killed in an electric plane crash on Sunday. JURE MAKOVEC/AFP/AFP via Getty Images

An electric plane constructed from a kit crashed in California, resulting in the loss of four lives, including the experimental pilot, Lochie Ferrier, and his fiancée, venture capitalist Cassidy Petit.

The crash occurred around 7 PM on Sunday near Moss Beach, off the coast of Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco, per the NY Post.

A 911 caller reported the plane crashing toward the water after hearing the engine sputter.

Ferrier, an Australian-born pilot and MIT graduate in aerospace engineering was flying a Cozy Mark IV, a single-engine, four-seater plane.

Also on board were their friend Emma Willmer-Shiles and another individual yet to be identified.

The wreckage is currently challenging to locate due to adverse weather conditions, hampering the recovery efforts.

Experienced Pilot With Strong Ties to Aerospace Industry

Lochie Ferrier, recognized in the "experimental aircraft" community, worked for Beta Technologies, an electronic aerospace company based in Vermont, according to KTVU.

His LinkedIn profile indicates his involvement with Magpie Aviation, an East Bay-based aviation company specializing in electric aircraft.

Challenges persist in finding the victims and wreckage due to rough seas.

Professor Ken Gray, a small aircraft pilot, highlighted the importance of recovering all pieces of the aircraft to determine the cause of the crash.

"There may still be pieces of the aircraft that are floating or slightly submerged and recovery of that would help determine what went wrong," he said.

The Cozy Mark IV is a four-seat light aircraft assembled from a kit, and reports suggest it belonged to Ferrier.

Investigating the Cause: Weather Conditions in Focus

Retired airline captain Ross Sagun emphasized the importance of proper construction and maintenance despite the plane being assembled by the buyer, CBS News noted.

"It's a proven design, however, having said that, it's up to the person building the airplane to properly construct it and maintain good engineering and building practices. That's hard to guarantee," he said.

The electric plane, Cozy Mark IV, registered to Winged Wallabies Inc. in Oakland, California has conducted numerous flights over the Bay Area.

Investigators are focused on determining what led to the tragic crash.

According to Flight Aware, the plane departed from Hayward for Half Moon Bay, landing 35 minutes later at 5:04 PM The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that it departed Half Moon Bay, California around 7 PM and crashed into the water minutes later.

Sagun pointed out the significance of weather conditions during the incident, citing low ceilings, fog, and mist.

He explained the challenges pilots face when flying above such conditions, losing reference and spatial orientation.

The NTSB will conduct a thorough investigation into the electric plane crash, with Sagun anticipating complex factors contributing to the crash.

The aviation community mourns the loss of lives in this tragic California electric plane crash, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: 4 onboard during deadly plane crash in Half Moon Bay - From KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco