Small Plane With 4 Aboard Crashes

A small plane with four people aboard crashed in the ocean off San Clemente on Saturday, but search-and-rescue teams were unable to locate any survivors, authorities reported.

Orange County sheriff’s deputies said they received reports about 2 p.m. from boaters that a single-engine Cessna 210 had crashed about three miles from shore.

Lt. Ted Boyne said sheriff’s divers reached the scene within 10 minutes of the mayday calls. The U.S. Coast Guard also received reports about the plane crash from boats in the area.

Divers searched the chilly waters and used sonar to try to find the wreckage and any bodies. The depth in the area is about 200 feet.

“There’s nothing on the surface except a strong smell of oil and some debris,” Boyne said.

Search teams remained at the crash site Saturday night and located the main wreckage with sonar.

Sheriff’s Lt. Erin Giudice said the search would resume today.

Coast Guard personnel are assisting.

Authorities believe that four people were aboard the aircraft, which apparently was headed from Brown Field in San Diego to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana.

The identities of the four people were not immediately released. Bodies had not been recovered.

Giudice said there was a possibility that the airplane could be raised Monday.