Investigators in Volusia County have released the name of the pilot who died after her plane crashed Tuesday night in the water off New Smyrna Beach.
The pilot, identified as Mihoko Tabata, was originally from Japan, and had been living in the United States on and off. She most recently came to Volusia County on Saturday, Jan. 10, three days before the crash.
Volusia County deputies said Tabata's family in Japan has been notified of her death via the Japanese consulate in Miami.
Tabata was flying a Cessna 152 Tuesday night and told the flight control tower in Daytona Beach that she didn't know where she was.
Pilot: I don't know where I am. I want to land.
Tower: Maintain your altitude until you see the airport.
Pilot: I am in clouds.
Tower: Don't worry, ma'am, just calm down. Make a left turn; just make a left turn if you can. I need you to climb though. Climb, you're descending. It's OK if you're in the clouds, but I need you to climb.
Pilot: I'm climbing.
That was the pilot's final transmission before traffic control called 911.
The remains of the aircraft were removed from the beach Wednesday. The National Transportation Safety Board has begun working to figure out what caused the crash. A preliminary report is expected to be released within seven days.
Investigators said Tabata was certified to fly a single-engine or multi-engine aircraft.
A group of student pilots in the same area at the time of the crash said weather conditions were treacherous Tuesday night.