NTSB Preliminary Report: Fatal Beach Baron B-55 Accident Near Monterey, CA

Accident Overview

• ✈️ A Beach Baron B-55 November 87 Niner 6 Romeo was substantially damaged in an accident near Pacific Grove, California on July 26th, 2025.
• 💔 The pilot and two passengers sustained fatal injuries.

Flight and Approach Details

• 📡 The pilot requested flight following to Monterey Regional Airport from San Carlos Airport and was advised to remain outside of San Francisco class Bravo airspace.
• 🗺️ After obtaining weather for Monterey and requesting the ILS10 right approach, the pilot was cleared for the approach.
• 📉 During the approach, the controller observed the airplane descend below the minimum vectoring altitude and inquired if the pilot was going around.

Loss of Control and Communication

• ↩️ The pilot confirmed going around and requested vectors back to the ILS initial approach fix.
• ⚠️ The controller issued instructions to turn west and climb to 3,000 ft, but subsequently issued low altitude alerts for the airplane.
• 🔇 No further radio communication was received from the pilot despite multiple attempts.

ADSB Data and Witness Accounts

• 📈 ADSB data showed the airplane descending and initiating a left turn to an easterly heading, followed by a left descending turn.
• 🌊 ADSB contact was lost over the Pacific Ocean at 2237:11 seconds at an altitude of 200 ft MSL, south of the accident site.
• 👂 Witnesses reported hearing an airplane overflying residences, with one noting erratic engine noises and a low-flying airplane in a level left turn before it entered a nose-down attitude and descended out of sight, followed by an impact sound.

Weather and Wreckage

• ☁️ Recorded weather at Monterey indicated an overcast ceiling at 900 ft, with variations from 600 to 1,000 ft.
• 🌊 The wreckage was located approximately 300 ft from the shoreline, submerged in 10 to 15 ft of water.