FAA Seeks Cause Of Deadly Watsonville Plane Crash

WATSONVILLE (CBS) ―

 

A Federal Aviation Administration investigator returned Sunday to the scene of a small plane crash north of Watsonville.

The pilot was the only person on board the plane when it crashed Saturday and was killed; the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office identified him as Gary Lampert, 58, of Atherton.

It's still not known from where the pilot took off from or where he was flying; an FAA spokesperson said he did not file a flight plan.

The plane was described by authorities as a homebuilt Lancair Legacy.

Authorities said the experimental aircraft was on approach Saturday afternoon to Watsonville Municipal Airport when the pilot reported his engine was on fire to the Oakland Air Control station.

There were no further reports from the pilot. A short time later, the owners of an apple orchard on Freedom Boulevard heard the crash and called police