Aircraft down: - Pilot missing

Small aircraft down off El Capitan State Beach in Santa Barbara County

Updated Coast Guard Press Release: Coast Guard Responds to Downed Aircraft Near Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Coast Guard units responded to a report last night of a small aircraft in the water two and a half miles west of El Capitan State Beach north of Santa Barbara.

An HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Los Angeles and a 47-foot motor lifeboat from Station Channel Islands Harbor assisted local agencies including the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department, the Santa Barbara Fire Department and El Capitan State Beach Lifeguards in searching the area throughout the night and again this morning.

Late last night and early this morning, the Coast Guard air and boat crews searched a total of 435 miles in the vicinity of the crash. Agencies on scene located a debris field in the area, however, the Coast Guard suspended its portion of the search pending further information.
Source: uscgla.blogspot.com - Link

Update: Search crews are looking for a 55-year-old pilot, The pilot is the only person believed to have been aboard the plane when it crashed.

IA: 17:40 p.m - reports of the plane going down into the ocean off El Capitan State Beach. Coast Guard reports debris field and oil slick located.
Additional: There are reports that the plane was an aerobatic type of plane out of Santa Monica Airport, allegedly performing aerobatic moves when it went down. It is unknown how many people were on board.
Location: Santa Barbara County - El Capitan State Beach - two miles off the coast.
Resources: Santa Barbara County Fire Santa Barbara County Fire, Coast Guard, and state park officials are searching the waters with water vessels and helicopters.
IC: A command post has been set up and the Coast Guard will search through the night.