State Police Sgt. Stephen Jones says officials suspect the body is that of Richard Jahns of Point Pleasant Beach, under whose name the plane is registered. No official identification has been made, but Jahns' family was notified.
Authorities say only one person was aboard the four-seater, homebuilt plane when it went down just before 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Jones says the plane was missing out of Monmouth Executive Airport.
Witnesses, including a state police lieutenant, described a small plane plummeting into waters that were only 3 to 4 feet deep.
