Plane Crash off San Diego Kills Six

Twin-engine Cessna whent down shortly after takeoff near Point Loma.

A tragic plane crash off the coast of San Diego claimed the lives of all six individuals on board. The incident occurred shortly after the twin-engine Cessna 414 took off, prompting an investigation by federal authorities.

Details of the Crash

The Federal Aviation Governance (FAA) reported that the crash happened around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.The aircraft was en route back to Phoenix, Arizona, following a flight to San Diego the previous day, according to data from Flightaware.com.

The U.S. Coast Guard discovered a debris field approximately 5 miles (8 kilometers) off point Loma. The water depth in the search area is about 200 feet (61 meters),according to officials.

While the FAA confirmed all six occupants perished, their identities have not yet been released.

Ownership Discrepancy

The FAA initially identified Optimal Health Systems, a vitamin and nutritional supplement company, as the plane’s owner. Though, the company stated that it sold the aircraft to private individuals in 2023, suggesting the FAA’s records might potentially be outdated.

Despite the ownership change, Doug Grant, the founder of Optimal Health Systems, expressed condolences, “We personally know several of the passengers onboard and our sincerest condolences are offered to those affected by the tragedy, all of whom are incredible members of our small community.”

The FAA has deferred inquiries regarding the plane’s ownership to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Pilot’s Distress Calls

Recordings from www.LiveATC.net and radar data from FlightAware indicate the pilot struggled to maintain altitude and direction. The pilot twice turned toward the shore before heading back out to sea.air traffic controllers urged the pilot to ascend to 4,000 feet after he reported being at only 1,000 feet.

Controllers directed the pilot to land at a nearby U.S. naval airport on Coronado Island, but the pilot responded that he could not see the airport. shortly after, the pilot repeatedly issued a “Mayday” distress call before radar contact was lost.

Eyewitness Account

Tyson Wislofsky, a surfer who witnessed the crash, told NBC 7 that he saw the plane descend at an angle, then climb back into the clouds before diving again.

“The next time he came out of the clouds, he went straight into the water.But after I saw this splash, about six seconds later, it was dead silent. I knew that they went in the water, nose first, at a high speed,” Wislofsky said.

Recent Aviation Incidents

This crash follows another recent incident in San Diego where a small Cessna crashed into a residential neighborhood, also resulting in six fatalities. According to the NTSB, general aviation accidents have a higher fatality rate compared to commercial aviation, with approximately one fatality per 100,000 flight hours (NTSB 2023).