SANTA MONICA -- Peter Tomarken was known as host of the hit 1980s game show "Press Your Luck," in which contestants often shouted the slogan "big bucks, no whammies."

He left the world Monday as a humanitarian trying to provide a free flight for someone in need of medical help. Tomarken, 63, and wife Kathleen Abigail Tomarken, 41, were killed when their small plane crashed in Santa Monica Bay shortly after takeoff on a charity flight, authorities said.

Their bodies were pulled from the water and identified by the Los Angeles County coroner's office. The aircraft, appearing largely intact, was later towed onto the beach.

"A terrific friend and a great human being, as evidenced by his last act," his friend, Marty Nislick, told KCAL-TV.

The Beech A36 went down about 9:35 a.m. while apparently trying to return to Santa Monica Airport because of engine trouble, said FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer. The airport is about two miles inland from the ocean.

Tomarken, who was piloting the aircraft, was a volunteer for Angel Flight West, a nonprofit organization that provides free air transportation for needy medical patients. The plane was flying to San Diego to pick up a passenger who needed to get to UCLA Medical Center for treatment, said organization spokesman Doug Griffith.

"They were so enthusiastic and so excited to be able to use their airplane to help people in need," Griffith told KABC-TV.

A third person was initially believed to be on board, prompting divers to look most of the day before suspending the search after sunset. The third person listed in the flight plan may have been the patient, said Coast Guard spokesman Tony Migliorini.

The plane was found in 19 feet of water, 200 yards offshore. It was registered to Tomarken, according to Federal Aviation Administration records.

Witness Luis Garr told KNBC-TV that the plane was silent as it "kind of landed into the water."

"I didn't hear any engine. It's a big splash, a huge splash, huge splash. Then it started going down. The wings were still floating so I was, `Get out! Get out!' because the door was still available to get out and nobody came out," he said.

Tomarken's agent, Fred Wostbrock, said his client's first game show was "Hit Man!," which ran 13 weeks on NBC, followed by the four-year hit "Press Your Luck" on CBS.

"He was always a fun guy to be around, and he just loved the genre of game shows," Wostbrock said.

In 1987, Tomarken was on ABC with a show called "Bargain Hunters," and then went to the syndicated "Wipe-Out" in 1990. He returned to game shows in 2000 with the program "Paranoia."