Six people died when a twin-engine Cessna 414 crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the San Diego coast on June 8, 2025, shortly after takeoff from San Diego International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed all occupants were killed when the aircraft went down around 12:30 p.m., approximately three miles west of Point Loma.
The victims included pilot Landon Baldwin and his wife Torrie Baldwin, both in their 20s from Pima, Arizona, along with Jeremy Bingham and his three adult sons Bailey, Gavin and Ayden from Thatcher, Arizona. The Baldwin couple left behind two small children under five years old, while Bailey Bingham was a new father preparing to celebrate his first Father’s Day.
Flight tracking data from FlightAware showed the aircraft departed San Diego International Airport at 12:24 p.m., bound for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The plane had flown from Arizona to San Diego the previous day. Air traffic control recordings captured the pilot’s struggle in the moments before the crash, with Baldwin reporting difficulty maintaining heading and climbing altitude.
According to LiveATC.net recordings, controllers instructed the pilot to climb to 4,000 feet after learning the aircraft was flying at only 1,000 feet. When asked about the problem, Baldwin indicated he was struggling to maintain heading and climb. Controllers directed him to land at Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado Island, but the pilot reported being unable to see the airport. Baldwin then repeatedly transmitted “Mayday, mayday, mayday” before controllers lost radar contact.
The aircraft, with tail number N414BA, was registered to Optimal Health Systems, a vitamin and nutritional supplement company based in Pima, Arizona. However, company founder Doug Grant clarified that while previously owned by the business, the plane had been sold to private individuals on June 30, 2023, under an official purchase agreement. Grant noted that several passengers were known to the company and described them as incredible members of their small community.
Witness Tyson Wislofsky, who was surfing near Point Loma during the incident, observed the aircraft descending at an angle before climbing back into clouds and then diving straight into the water at high speed. He reported hearing silence approximately six seconds after the impact splash.
Multiple agencies participated in search and rescue operations, including the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, San Diego Harbor Police and San Diego Fire Department Lifeguards. The Coast Guard located a debris field in water approximately 200 feet deep, with crews searching over 300 square miles for more than 35 combined hours before suspending operations on June 10.
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 his family on trips to create special memories together, with the San Diego excursion being one such outing. Bingham was known throughout his community for his kindness, stopping at children’s lemonade stands and greeting passersby during his delivery routes.
His son Ayden played football at Thatcher High School, where teammates remembered him as a passionate player who inspired others with his confidence and determination. During their senior year, Ayden’s leadership helped the team overcome a three-touchdown halftime deficit to win in the final seconds. Bailey Bingham was described as excited about becoming a father, while Gavin was characterized as independent yet soft-hearted.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash cause, working alongside the FAA to determine what led to the aircraft’s sudden descent. Flight data indicated the plane made two loops over the coastline near Point Loma before crashing into the ocean. This incident occurred approximately two and a half weeks after another Cessna crashed into a San Diego residential neighborhood, killing six people and damaging multiple homes.
Online fundraising efforts have been established to support the Bingham family, with organizers describing the four men as incredible individuals taken too soon. The close-knit Arizona community continues to mourn the loss of families known for their generosity, work ethic and welcoming nature toward others.
