SANTA ROSA BEACH — Two people died Saturday when a World War II-era stunt plane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off South Walton County.

The North American T-6 Texan crashed about 12:30 p.m. about a half-mile off Topsail Hill Preserve State Park.

Click to view a photo gallery of the crash scene »

Stephen Lehmann, a spokesman at the Coast Guard’s Eighth District headquarters in New Orleans, said a dive team from Okaloosa County recovered two bodies in about 50 feet of water.

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office knew the identities of the victims, but had not released their names as of 7 p.m. because a relative had not been notified, said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Mike Gurspan.

According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the registered owner of the aircraft was Herbert E. Zeiger of Alexander City, Ala.

A person who answered the telephone at Zeiger’s home Saturday night declined to comment.

The T-6 was one of five aircraft flying together when the crash occurred, said Chris Johnson, officer of the day at the Coast Guard Station Destin.

Phillip Brown McDonald, who was out on a YOLO board, told a crowd on Facebook that he witnessed the crash.

"They nosedived in to the surface of the water going at a very high rate of speed. The impact was like a bomb hitting the water and shot water about 100 feet into the air. I couldn't believe my my eyes! The way the plane hit the water the impact had to have been massive! Thoughts and prayers," he wrote.

Witness Duane Escobedo said he was on the beach watching the planes do stunts when he saw one of them come out of a loop and fall into the gulf.

“Looks like he stalled and did a nosedive into the water,” said Escobedo, of Pensacola. “Then his buddies came back around and circled.”

His daughter, 12-year-old Claire Escobedo, videotaped the crash.

“I was just watching him with the camera and then he went into the water,” said Claire. “We all got scared when he went into the water.

“It looked like it was from a movie,” she said.

She turned over her camera with about 30 seconds of video to lawmen so they could use it in their investigation.

During World War II, the single-engine T-6 was used in pilot training. It remains a popular vintage aircraft.

The Coast Guard, South Walton Fire District, Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were called to help with rescue and recovery efforts.

Five search boats formed a circle in the gulf as divers searched for survivors for several hours Saturday afternoon. Crash debris, including two helmets, was found early on. Oil from the aircraft was bubbling up to the surface of the water.

The FAA is investigating the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board will determine the probable cause of the accident, FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said.

A person who answered the phone at Destin Airport on Saturday would not release any information about whether the planes took off from there.

The planes have been a source of controversy in Destin with some residents and visitors complaining about the noise and safety of the formation flying.

The shows have become a familiar sight and sound in Destin.

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Log photographer Kathy Harrison went up in a T-6 in 2007. To see a video from the cockpit that flight, click here. To see photos from that 2007 flight, click here.

See the story unfold.

5:30 P.M. UPDATE

Two bodies have been recovered from the scene of a plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico early this afternoon.

Stephen Lehmann, a spokesman at the Coast Guard district headquarters in New Orleans, said a dive team from Okaloosa County recovered the bodies in about 50 feet of water.

The names of the victims were not released as of 5 p.m.

The World War II-era North American T-6 crashed into the gulf about 12:30 p.m. about a half-mile off Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in South Walton County.

The Coast Guard, South Walton Fire District, Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were called to help with rescue and recovery efforts.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash.

The T-6 was one of five aircraft flying together at the time, Chris Johnson, officer of the day at the Coast Guard Station Destin, said earlier today.

Claire Escobedo, who videotaped the crash from the beach, said the planes were performing stunts. She focused her camera on the one that plunged into the gulf.

“I was just watching him with the camera and then he went into the water,” said Claire, a 12-year-old from Pensacola who was at the beach with her father, sister and family friends. “We all got scared when he went into the water.

 “It looked like it was from a movie,” she said.

She turned over her camera with about 30 seconds of video to lawmen so they could use it in their investigation.

3:30 P.M. UPDATE

A World War II-era airplane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico early Saturday afternoon.

As of 2 p.m., there was no word on how many people were on the plane or if there were any survivors, according to a Coast Guard spokesman.

"We're not sure on how many people were onboard," said Chris Johnson, officer of the day at Coast Guard Station Destin.

The North American T-6 crashed into the gulf shortly after noon about a half-mile off Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in South Walton County.

A Coast Guard vessel from Destin had been sent to the scene along with three boats from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Johnson said. A helicopter from the Walton County Sheriff?s Office was searching from the air, and a helicopter from the Coast Guard headquarters in New Orleans was en route, he said.

The T-6 was one of five aircraft flying together at the time, Johnson said.

A witness said the planes were performing stunts when the T-6 nose-dived into the water after it came out of a loop.

Rescuers reported seeing debris from the crash but nothing else, Johnson said.