The Contra Costa County Coroner has identified the pilot of the Cessna that went down in the San Pablo Bay on Thursday as a 33-year-old Sacramento man.
David Everett Plumb's body was recovered on Wednesday during the salvage operation to recover the plane, according to Contra Costa County Sheriff's Sgt. Jimmy Lee. The coroner ruled he died of "blunt force injuries."
Plumb's Cessna plunged into the bay near the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge late Sunday afternoon after it smashed into a vintage Hawker Sea Fury TMK 20. Witnesses at Point San Pablo Yacht Harbor said the Cessna spiraled out of control and crashed into the choppy water. Debris was found in the bay after the collision.
The Hawker and its pilot landed safely at the Eagle's Nest Airport in the small California city of Ione in Amador County at about 4:45 p.m. on Sunday.
Both planes had departed from Eagle's Nest Airport to participate in the Pacific Coast Dream Machines, an annual festival at Half Moon Bay Airport that features a variety of planes, motorcycles and cars.
Both planes left Half Moon Bay, about 20 miles south of San Francisco, and were on their return flight to Ione.
It was not immediately clear why the planes were flying so close together during the passing maneuver
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
