The Associated Press

AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian Responders rescued two men from a small plane that crashed at sea Tuesday near Malibu, Calif. The accident is under investigation.

MALIBU, Calif. — A small airplane crashed in the ocean near the Malibu pier on Tuesday and two injured occupants were rescued, authorities said.
The men were reported in critical condition, said Los Angeles County fire Capt. Frank Reynoso.

The single-engine Sky Arrow 600 went down at about 5:15 p.m. 50 yards offshore, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor.

The airplane had taken off from Santa Monica Airport and the pilot was not in communication with air traffic controllers at the time of the crash, Gregor said. The plane's destination was not known.

The plane's tail number indicated it was registered to a corporation, Northfield Aviation LLC, in Santa Monica.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.