Offshore Plane Crash Kills One Aboard

At least one man was killed Sunday morning when a small plane flying out of Fullerton Municipal Airport crashed about 12 miles off the coast of Newport Beach, sending dozens of rescue workers searching for survivors in choppy waters halfway to Santa Catalina.

Late in the day officials, said they believed the plane carried no passengers, although they were still trying to locate one individual who might have been on board.

The six-seat Piper Aerostar, which was built in 1974, had taken off from Fullerton at 9:15 a.m. An hour later the craft disappeared from radar screens, alarming air traffic controllers, who attempted to establish radio contact, according to Federal Aviation Administration officials.

Shortly after 11 a.m., a Navy plane flying in the area spotted debris and a slick of oil floating in the ocean, prompting an extensive rescue effort. The body of a man believed to be the pilot was recovered from the scene and turned over to Los Angeles County coroner’s office Sunday night.

The private plane was owned by Walter Cecil, 44, of Placentia, according to aviation records. Officials had not released the identity of the body recovered by late Sunday.

But Cecil’s neighbor said police officers were at the home for several hours Sunday. Cecil’s wife, Rhonda, later left with relatives. Cecil has two teenage children from a previous marriage, a neighbor said.

“He always talked about his flying. He’d been doing it for a long time, and I understand he was a very good pilot,” said Tony Lightfoot, who has lived across the street from the Cecils for six years. “Walt was just a good guy and a good neighbor.”

Officials believe the plane’s pilot was putting in some practice when the accident took place.

“He was doing some air work at about 5,500 feet--out there doing some practice, said FAA operations officer J.J. Johnston.

Without a flight plan--which was not required--investigators did not know how many people were aboard the plane. About 50 rescue workers spent hours in helicopters and boats looking for survivors. The search was complicated by waves that reached four to five feet, said Lt. Commander Charles Cashin, chief of operations for the Coast Guard in Long Beach.

Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to investigate the accident.