A very sad bit of news. Prayers to the families and friends of both victims.
A note though to keep in mind. On another thread there is disucsion about whether the nedia reads the aviation boards and pulls information from them to either help formulate a story or even quote. the below example would seem to show that this is indeed the case.
According to Airliners.net, one of the victims was Paulo Emanuele, the General Manager of the popular aviation enthusiasts Web site.
A tribute to Emanuele read:
"It is with the deepest sorrow that we let you know Paulo Emanuele, General Manager of Airliners.net died this evening in a tragic plane crash. His plane took off out of Santa Monica Airport around 5:00 PM and lost power. Paulo attempted to return to the airport, but did not make it. Paulo loved Airliners and everything it stands for. He will be remembered for his passion, his kindness, and his love for life. Paulo was an amazing pilot, an amazing photographer, an amazing friend, and an amazing father. He will be deeply missed."
USMCFLYR