Small plane crashes on Catalina Island, 5 people dead

A plane that departed from Catalina Island off the Southern California coast crashed Tuesday night killing all five people on board, the Federal Aviation Administration is reporting.

According to information from the agency, four passengers and the pilot were on board a twin-engine turboprop plane when it crashed near the island's private airport about 8 p.m. local time.

The Beechcraft 95 crashed shortly after it left Catalina Airport just over 6.4 miles northwest of Avalon, the FAA told USA TODAY.

Records show the plane crashed "under unknown circumstances" about a mile from the airport.

All five people on board the aircraft including the pilot died, the FAA reported.

The island, one of California’s Channel Islands, is about 21 miles southwest of Los Angeles. It averages about 5,500 full-time residents.

Porn on a plane?Qantas apologizes for playing R-rated movie in flight cabin due to 'technical issues'

Plane departed from Santa Monica Airport earlier in evening

According to FlightAware, an aircraft tracking website, earlier in the evening, the plane took off from the Santa Monica Airport at 5:57 p.m. and landed at the Catalina airport at 6:20 p.m.

After it took off from Avalon's airport, online logs show the aircraft got a short distance from the airport's runway before dropping off radar coverage.

According to the Los Angeles County Fire and the Avalon Sheriff's Station, operated by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs' Department, crews responded to the crash about 8:30 p.m.

Who was on board the plane that crashed off Catalina Island?

As of Wednesday morning, local officials had not confirmed the identities of those on board the plane.

USA TODAY has reached out to local authorities.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash, with the NTSB leading the investigation, according to the FAA.

This is a developing story.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.