Crews search for missing plane off San Pedro

A small plane carrying three people that departed Catalina Island in the rain was missing today, officials said.

Pilot Mark Hogland, who chartered a Bonanza out of Orange County, left the island about 4:50 p.m. Thursday and was expected to land at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana at 5:10 p.m. but failed to make it, said Lt. j.g. Stephanie Young of the U.S. Coast Guard in San Pedro. Hogland’s fiancee reported the missing plane, which carried two passengers.

“We started the search as soon as we got the report shortly after 10:30 p.m., and we’ve been working since then on the rescue efforts,” Young said. “We have confirmation that the weather at the time of departure there was poor visibility.”

A Coast Guard rescue helicopter crew from Air Station Los Angeles has been searching for the plane, which bears the tail number N66819. Anyone with information is asked to notify the Coast Guard at 310-521-3801.

-- Corina Knoll