CAPE MAY, N.J. (CBS) — Authorities are working to recover a pilot after a small private plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Cape May beach on Wednesday morning. It happened in the area of the Cape May Lighthouse, between Cape May and Cape May Point.

The emergency call came in shortly before 11:30 a.m.

The FAA says a Mooney M20J aircraft crashed into the ocean approximately 1,200 feet from the Cape May Lighthouse. The plane is submerged in 18 feet of water.

According to the FAA, only the pilot was on board. The plane departed from Trenton-Robbinsville Airport at 8 a.m.

Update from FAA on Cape May plane crash this morning: A Mooney M20J aircraft crashed in the water approximately 1,200 feet from the Cape May Lighthouse today. The aircraft is submerged. There was one person on board. The aircraft departed Trenton-Robbinsville airport at 8 am — Cleve Bryan CBS3 (@CleveBryan) May 29, 2019

The plane was spotted traveling low among the coast in Cape May County.

“It came around the cove, I saw it go up and then it came straight back down. It didn’t even hesitate, just straight down into the water,” said eyewitness David Fletcher.

Jacqueline Morroni was on Wildwood Crest beach when she captured the small plane having troubles before it crashed.

@USCG Station Cape May boat crews, and Air Station Atlantic City helicopter crew, local lifeguards, Cape May Fire/Rescue and Sea Tow are on scene with single engine #planecrash off Cape May Point. Initial notification was 11:23am EST. #breaking #breakingnews #USCG #searching pic.twitter.com/HMUveFsNVx — USCG Mid-Atlantic (@uscgmidatlantic) May 29, 2019

New Jersey State Police are now calling the search for the pilot a recovery effort.

Update: @NJSP on scene for plane crash in Cape May Point. They are now calling search for pilot a recovery effort. The pilot, whose name has not been released, rented a plane out of Trenton and was scene by witnesses skimming low by the ocean just before crashing. — Cleve Bryan CBS3 (@CleveBryan) May 29, 2019

Witnesses in Cape May Point said local lifeguards tried to rescue the pilot before being called off by the Coast Guard and police.

“They got on paddleboards, they went out looking for it immediately it seemed,” Patty Oat said. “But there was no smoke coming from the water, there was no wing or fuselage, nothing floating on top.”

The plane that crashed belongs to Air Mods and Repair Inc., based out of the Trenton-Robbinsville Airport.

The company will not release the name of the pilot, but they say he rented the plane for the day.

They say he’s been an avid renter for about three years and sometimes rents the plane several days a week.

The pilot was expected to return the plane today. The company said the aircraft was in sound-working condition.

CBS3’s Cleve Bryan contributed to this report.