Newport community shaken by plane crash in Pacific Ocean

NEWPORT, Ore. (KPTV) - Newport community members have been shaken by loss after a plane crash on Monday.

It’s been more than 24 hours since a 78-year-old pilot crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Nye Beach in Newport.

People living in the community weren’t sure what was going on Monday afternoon when the Coast Guard started its search efforts.

“The Coast Guard, it looks like they were doing some type of training out in the ocean because I saw the Coast Guard ship, and then I saw the helicopter fly right over the ship,” said Newport resident Clint Anderson.

Within two minutes of the crash, Coast Guard officials say they were in the area.

They did not see any trace of the Beechcraft B95 plane or the pilot.

“As soon as that happened, everyone kind of scattered towards the beach, trying to get some information and wanted to know what was going on,” Anderson said.

Officials believe the plane entered the Pacific Ocean nose-first.

Crews searched for about 10 hours and more than 100 square miles.

Newport residents are hoping for answers.

“If they were able to recover anything or if he did an SOS when the plane went down. There’s like 21 questions,” said Anderson.

Officials have not identified the pilot, but Federal Aviation Administration records show Ralph Busby III owned the plane.

Busby was a former Newport city councilor.

As the FAA continues its investigation, neighbors worry about the pilot who’s still missing.

“The ocean alone, that’s a scary part when somebody is stranded out there,” Anderson said.