Deadly Plane Crash Off San Diego Coast Results in Six Fatalities

Tragic Plane Crash Off San Diego Coast Claims Six Lives

A catastrophic aviation accident occurred on Sunday off the coast of San Diego, resulting in the loss of all six individuals aboard a twin-engine Cessna 414. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the incident took place around 12:30 PM, shortly after the small aircraft departed.

The plane was en route to Phoenix, having taken off from Arizona one day prior, as reported by flight tracking provider FlightAware.

Search and Recovery Efforts

Following the crash, search teams located a debris field approximately five miles off Point Loma, a San Diego locality protruding into the Pacific Ocean. U.S. Coast Guard officials revealed that the waters in the region are about 200 feet deep. While the FAA confirmed the fatalities of all six passengers, their identities have yet to be disclosed.

The aircraft was reportedly owned by Optimal Health Systems, a company that specializes in nutritional supplements. However, a statement from the Arizona-based organization clarified that the plane was sold to private individuals in 2023, indicating potential discrepancies in the FAA’s records. Doug Grant, the founder of Optimal Health Systems, expressed heartfelt condolences, acknowledging several individuals onboard as members of their close-knit community.

Investigation and Witness Accounts

In light of the tragedy, the FAA has referred ownership inquiries to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which has yet to release additional information about the ongoing investigation.

San Diego Harbor Police utilized sonar technology in the search efforts, while the Coast Guard also coordinated with the local San Diego Fire Department Lifeguards. The lifeguards managed to discover an oil slick and scattered debris on the water’s surface, all of which has since been handed over to Coast Guard personnel.

Audio communications released reveal that the pilot reported difficulties maintaining altitude, making multiple adjustments in direction before eventually heading back over the ocean. The air traffic controller directed him to climb to 4,000 feet, but the pilot, who was only at 1,000 feet, indicated that he could not see the nearby naval airport on Coronado Island. Shortly thereafter, the pilot issued a “Mayday” distress call, but radar contact was subsequently lost.

Eyewitness Tyson Wislofsky, who was surfing at the time, recounted a dramatic view of the aircraft’s descent. He observed the plane dive at a steep angle, re-emerge temporarily into the clouds before plummeting into the ocean. “It was dead silent after the splash,” said Wislofsky, estimating that the craft hit the water at a high speed and nose-first.

Table of Recent Plane Crashes in San Diego

The recent accident follows another tragic incident just weeks prior, where a Cessna 172 crashed into a neighborhood in adverse weather conditions, resulting in six fatalities as well. The investigation continues as authorities seek to ascertain the causes behind these tragic events.