SAN DIEGO (BN24) — A twin-engine Cessna 414 crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on Sunday, killing all six people on board after the pilot issued a distress call indicating trouble with the aircraft’s climb and heading, federal authorities confirmed.
The plane, which had departed San Diego and was en route to Phoenix, Arizona, went down around 12:30 p.m. near Point Loma, a narrow peninsula that extends into the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. Coast Guard and Federal Aviation Administration reported that the wreckage was discovered later Sunday afternoon in roughly 200 feet of water, about five miles offshore.
Crews continued to search the area through Sunday evening, but no survivors were found. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. The identities of the victims have not been publicly released.
In a chilling final radio transmission to air traffic control, the pilot reported difficulty maintaining heading and altitude. Despite receiving instructions from controllers to ascend to 4,000 feet, the aircraft was at just 1,000 feet above the water before radar contact was lost. The Cessna turned inland twice before veering back out over the ocean and disappearing from radar.
Federal records list the aircraft’s registered owner as Optimal Health Systems, a supplement company based in Pima, Arizona. However, the company said it sold the plane to private buyers in 2023 and that FAA records had not been updated. Doug Grant, founder of the company, confirmed he personally knew several passengers on board and extended condolences to their families.
“Our sincerest condolences are offered to those affected by the tragedy,” Grant said in a statement.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Ryan Graves confirmed the depth of the crash site and said recovery efforts are ongoing, though challenging due to underwater conditions.
The NTSB has yet to release preliminary findings but will lead the investigation into what caused the crash.
Sunday’s incident comes just weeks after a separate plane crash in a San Diego neighborhood killed six people, including musician Daniel Williams and talent agent Dave Shapiro, raising renewed concerns about private aviation safety in the region.
