Planes Collide Off California Coast

L O N G   B E A C H, Calif., Feb 15 -- One person was killed and three others are missing after two smallplanes, possibly from a local flying club, collided in mid-airjust off the southern Californian coast, fire officials said.

Coast Guard rescue crews have called off the search for the night because of darkness, according to Long Beach fire Capt. Mike Garcia. National Transportation Safety Board officials say a Cessna 172 and another unidentified Cessna aircraft collided near the Queen Mary ocean liner at approximately 4 p.m. local time. According to the Coast Guard, the tail section of the Cessna 172 was found in the water.

Garcia said it is believed that two people were in each plane. The body of a 45-year-old man was recovered from the water, according to Garcia. The search will continue at 7am Friday morning. .

Debris, oil and wreckage were seen floating just off Queen's Gate, an entrance to Long Beach Harbor. In addition to the Coast Guard, dive teams and search boats and Navy helicopters are on the scene, helping with the search.

Divers have located three large fields of debris and will search for the missing three people in those areas, Garcia said.

Officials say the water around the area of the crash is 60-to-80 feet deep. The FAA said it was aware of collision but had no further information.

ABC Affiliate KABC in Los Angeles and ABCNEWS' Ricki Goldberg contributed to this report.