LOS ANGELES, Nov. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- The salvage operation on a small plane that crashed off the Southern California coast, presumably killing four men, could begin only three days after the accident, a federal investigator said Monday.

    The Cessna 210-T plunged into the water Saturday afternoon nearly five kilometers from the coastline of Orange County and sank in about 60 meters of water.

    No human remains have been recovered from the wreck site, and an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board said the salvage operation would not start until at least Tuesday.

    The recovery effort will be handled by a private firm hired by the company that insured the plane, said Nicole Charnon, who is heading the investigation into the crash.

    In the meantime, authorities will review pilot and maintenance records and other information, according to the investigator.

    Charnon said radar data showed that the plane "was cruising along the coast at about 1,000 meters when there was a very rapid descent."

    She added that the plane was "flying along the coast and not receiving air traffic control services" at the time of the crash.

    There were pleasure boats in the area at the time, and some of those aboard those boats witnessed the plane plunging into the ocean, police said.

    According to published accounts, a 35-year-old offroad racer named Jason Baldwin, two of his friends and a pilot were on the plane, owned by Baldwin's uncle.

    Baldwin had just finished competing in an offroad race in Mexico and was returning to California. Enditem