Six people were killed when a twin-engine Cessna 414 crashed into the Pacific Ocean approximately three miles west of Point Loma, San Diego, on June 8, 2025, at 12:30 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The aircraft took off from San Diego International Airport at 12:24 p.m. bound for Phoenix, Arizona, but crashed just minutes later under unknown circumstances. All six people aboard the plane were presumed dead, including the pilot and five passengers.
Air traffic control recordings captured the final moments before the crash. The pilot informed controllers he was struggling to maintain heading and climb altitude. When asked about the issue, the pilot responded that he was “just struggling right now… to maintain heading and climb.” The controller advised him to land at Naval Air Station North Island, but the pilot was unable to see the airport. The pilot then issued a mayday distress call before controllers lost radar contact with the aircraft.
The victims have been identified as pilot Landon Baldwin and his wife Torrie Baldwin, both residents of Pima, Arizona, along with Jeremy Bingham and his three adult sons Bailey, Gavin, and Ayden Bingham from Thatcher, Arizona. The Baldwin couple left behind two young children under five years old.
Jeremy Bingham worked as a UPS driver and owned small businesses, including his own semitruck for shipping runs. Friends described him as generous and hardworking, someone who would help anyone in need. He took the San Diego trip to create special memories with his family, working extra hours to afford such excursions.
Ayden Bingham was remembered as a passionate football player at Thatcher High School. His former teammate Brandon Napier recalled Ayden’s infectious confidence during games, noting how he inspired teammates even when facing difficult odds.
The aircraft was registered to Optimal Health Systems, a vitamin and nutritional supplement company based in Pima, Arizona. However, company founder Doug Grant stated the aircraft was officially sold to private individuals on June 30, 2023, though registration records had not been updated to reflect the ownership change.
The Coast Guard launched search and rescue operations just before 1 p.m. on June 8. Multiple agencies participated in the search, including Coast Guard air and marine crews, U.S. Customs and Border Protection teams, San Diego Harbor Police, and San Diego Fire Department lifeguards. The Coast Guard Cutter Sea Otter remained on scene overnight to continue searching.
Searchers discovered a debris field approximately five miles off the coast of Point Loma in water roughly 200 feet deep. San Diego Fire Department lifeguards located an oil sheen and debris on the water surface, which was turned over to Coast Guard officials for investigation.
A witness surfing near Point Loma observed the aircraft coming down at an angle before climbing back into the clouds. The witness reported seeing the plane emerge from the clouds again and go straight into the water at high speed, creating a large splash followed by silence.
Flight tracking data from FlightAware showed the aircraft’s planned route from San Diego to Phoenix, with the last known position over the Pacific Ocean west of Point Loma. The flight had been scheduled as a return trip, as the plane had flown from Arizona to San Diego the previous day.
The crash occurred just weeks after another aviation incident in the San Diego area. On May 22, 2025, a Cessna 550 crashed into a residential neighborhood in San Diego during foggy conditions, killing all six people aboard and damaging multiple homes.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the June 8 crash. Preliminary reports indicate the aircraft experienced difficulties maintaining altitude shortly after takeoff, but the specific cause of the mechanical problems remains under investigation.
Community members have established online fundraisers to support the families of the victims. The fundraiser for the Bingham family described the four men as incredible individuals whose absence leaves an indescribable void in their community.