Phan was last seen in Half Moon Bay, California on April 17, 1992. He left his San Jose, California residence with friends that morning to go swimming at Bean Hollow State Beach near Pigeon Point. He was caught in an undertow and swept out to sea at approximately 4:00 p.m. Authorities did an extensive search of the ocean but turned up no sign of Phan. He is presumed drowned but continues to be classified as a missing person.