It was fooooooggy this morning in CMA at my hotel 1/4 mile from the airport. I’d guess 1/2-1sm and 200ovc at the most @0700lcl. If it was an engine failure he probably just had seconds to pick a landing spot.
It was a VFR-on-top flight plan with an IFR departure clearance. Tower announced latest ATIS was now current with 4 miles vis and 400 OVC immediately after telling the pilot to switch to departure. He never contacted departure after takeoff.