Interavia Impacted Ocean After Loop

The pilot of a Russian aerobatic plane died Saturday afternoon when the aircraft went into the water while performing loops off the coast of California.

Witnesses say the Interavia E-3's engine revved loudly before the plane, piloted by David Hermance, 59, impacted the water in a pitch-down attitude. Authorities say Hermance died on impact. David W. Hermance was Toyota Motor Corp.'s US executive engineer for hybrid-electric autos and other advanced technology vehicles.

"I was thinking he'll come out of the loop, but he continued straight down," said witness Ed Storti to the Los Angeles Times. "He went beyond my eyesight, and I heard a loud impact that I will never forget... It was just like hitting a stone wall."

Storti added he believes he saw an uninflated parachute trailing the plane -- possibly the pilot's emergency 'chute.

The aircraft departed Long beach Airport Saturday afternoon, and crashed at approximately 1:20 pm about 400 yards off the coast.

The accident plane was built in 1993, registry N4426X. It was registered to Yakety Yak Inc. of Wilmington, DE. According to NTSB records, an Interavia with the same N number was substantially damaged following a 2000 fuel-starvation accident near Watsonville, CA.

The FAA and NTSB are investigating.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov