SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND – Three days after a midair collision between a Coast Guard rescue plane and a Marine Corps helicopter, a joint search operation off the coast of San Clemente Island was called off, Nov. 1. Agencies were unable to recover any of seven missing Coast Guard aircrew or two Marine Corps aircrew -- and a boater who was reportedly the focus of the Coast Guard search and rescue mission has also not been found.

The rescue plane (a Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft) and a Marine Corps AH-1 Super Cobra helicopter collided 15 miles east of San Clemente Island. The accident occurred as rescuers were searching for an Avalon boater, David T. Jines, 50, who was last seen Oct. 27.

Jines was last seen aboard a 57-foot boat, assisting the vessel’s owner with the anchor, which had been dragging in turbulent weather conditions.

“Dave was a super guy. He was just was a very nice guy,” said Charlie Canby, a Catalina Island resident.

Many in the Avalon boating community have been talking about what happened the night that Jines went missing and the midair collision occurred. Jines was reported to have been assisting a fellow liveaboard, whose 57-foot minesweeper Verna Josephine began to drag anchor in rough conditions. Locals said the boat was not be in good running condition.

Coast Guard personnel happened to be on the Coast Guard buoy and assisted the owner. According to locals, Jines was said to have left the boat aboard a 12-foot skiff afterward. He never made it back to Avalon Harbor.

The 57-foot minesweeper had reportedly been in the Avalon area for a month, during which time Avalon Harbor Patrol officers told the owner of Verna Josephine that she needed to obtain valid insurance for the boat to remain in the harbor. However, Avalon Harbor Patrol officers said, she was not turned away from the harbor in a storm.

“Harbor Patrol will not turn away a boat during a small craft or gale warning,” explained Avalon Harbormaster Brian Bray. “She (the boat’s owner) had the option to come in, but her boat did not run.”

During the Coast Guard’s search for missing boater Dave Jines on Oct. 29, the Marine Corps helicopter was conducting a training exercise. The Coast Guard received word of the midair collision of the helicopter and the rescue plane from the Navy at 7:10 p.m. Oct. 29.

Coast Guard, Navy, Marine and Customs and Border Protection crews participated in the search, covering more than 644 square miles for 63 hours, as stated by the Coast Guard. There were seven crewmembers aboard the Coast Guard plane and two aboard the Marine Corps helicopter.

“Continuous search coverage was provided from the time of the crash until suspension,’ said Capt. Thomas Farris, commanding officer of Sector San Diego. “Coast Guard assets will stay on scene with Navy assets to assist in salvage efforts. A joint mishap analysis board consisting of Coast Guard and Marine Corps members will be convened to investigate the incident.”

Missing crew from the C-130 are: Lt. Cmdr. Che J. Barnes, 35, Capay, CA, aircraft commander; Lt. Adam W. Bryant, 28, Crewe, VA, co-pilot; Chief Petty Officer John F. Seidman, 43, Stockton, CA, flight engineer; Petty Officer 2nd class Carl P. Grigonis, 35, Mayfield Heights, OH, navigator; Petty Officer 2nd Class Monica L. Beacham, 29, Decaturville, TN, radio operator; Petty Officer 2nd class Jason S. Moletzsky, 26, Norristown, PA, air crew; Petty Officer 3rd class Danny R. Kreder II, 22, Elm Mott, TX, drop master. Missing crew members from the Marine Corps helicopter are: Maj. Samuel Leigh, 35, Kennebec, ME; and 1st Lt. Thomas Claiborne, 26, Douglas, CO.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.