Wreckage of second plane recovered off San Pedro

Sheriff’s divers on Wednesday recovered the wreckage of the second of two small planes that collided off the coast of San Pedro last week, as well as the body of a 72-year-old woman who was behind its controls, officials said.

The Citabria piloted by Torrance resident Mary Falstrom was located Tuesday evening using sonar devices and remotely operated underwater vehicles about a mile west of where the wreckage of a Beech 35 Bonanza and the remains of two men — ages 61 and 81 — were found Sunday afteoon.

Divers used flotation devices to bring the wreckage to the ocean surface, and it then was lifted by a crane onto a Los Angeles Harbor Patrol barge and brought to Terminal Island.

The crash was reported by a fishing crew at about 3:15 p.m. Friday. Both planes flew out of Torrance Municipal Airport.

Officials have not released the names of the three victims, but Falstrom was identified by her husband of 24 years, Richard, and 61-year-old Martin Clement of Redondo Beach was identified by St. Lawrence Martyr Catholic Church, where he was a deacon.

The 81-year-old victim with him has not been identified, but was from the South Bay, officials said.

Richard Falstrom said his wife — a longtime pilot and volunteer at the Weste Museum of Flight — flew in the area a few times a week and told him conditions were perfect on Friday.

Clement, a financial plaer, was a pilot known to take other deacons and priests on flights, but it is not clear whether he was at the controls of the Bonanza.

A woman’s voice was reportedly overheard on radio frequencies at the time of the crash saying, “Uh oh” and “Help me! Help me!” Richard Falstrom said.

Members of the aviation community have speculated that the pilots may not have seen each other. The area is commonly used for practice and pilots usually are not in communication with air traffic controllers.

The recovery efforts were led by the Sheriff’s Emergency Services Detail, which is part of the Special Enforcement Bureau. Long Beach and Los Angeles Port police assisted in the search.

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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