A Routine Flight Turns Into a Mystery

On the evening of October 24, 2019, 43-year-old Justin Winfrey and 27-year-old Kayla Rodriguez embarked on what was intended to be a brief and scenic flight along California's rugged Lost Coast. Departing from Gnoss Field in Novato, California, around 6:20 p.m., the pair flew in Winfrey's red-and-white single-engine Piper Arrow toward Shelter Cove, a remote coastal community in Humboldt County. Their plan was to enjoy dinner and return to the Bay Area later that night. 

Arrival in Shelter Cove

Upon arrival in Shelter Cove, Winfrey faced challenges landing the aircraft. Local resident and pilot Cory Green observed the plane circling the airport and assisted by illuminating the runway with vehicle headlights, facilitating a hard but successful landing. Winfrey appeared "kind of shaky" and "uneasy," while Rodriguez seemed unconcerned. ...Read More