Tragic Plane Crash off San Diego Coast

SAN DIEGO – A small plane crash off the coast of San Diego on Sunday resulted in the deaths of six individuals, all from Gira Valley.

Search and rescue efforts commenced around 12:45 p.m. after witnesses spotted a Cessna 414 aircraft approximately three miles west of Point Loma, San Diego.

The flight departed from San Diego International Airport, heading toward Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Not long after takeoff, the pilot, Landon Baldwin from Pima, reported difficulties maintaining altitude and mentioned that the plane was climbing towards the coast. At that moment, the aircraft was only about 1,000 feet above sea level. Air traffic controllers urged Baldwin to ascend to 4,000 feet and directed him to land at North Island Airport. Baldwin stated he couldn’t see the airport, likely due to a thick marine layer obscuring visibility, which might have contributed to the accident. Shortly after, he issued a Mayday and the plane went down into the ocean.

The wreckage was located about 200 feet underwater. The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the incident.

Flight tracking data indicates that the plane took off from San Diego International at 12:25 p.m. en route to Phoenix. Reports suggest it reached a peak altitude of around 2,100 feet and made two left turns before the crash. Just a day before the incident, the flight tracker documented the aircraft traveling from Safford Regional Airport in Arizona to both Phoenix and San Diego.

A surfer recalled to NBC 7 in San Diego that the plane descended at an angle, then seemingly attempted to rise again before diving back down into the sea.

The deceased include pilot Landon Baldwin and his wife, Tory Baldwin. The other victims were identified as Thatcher Jeremy Bingham and his adult sons, Aiden, Gavin, and Bailey Bingham.

The aircraft, registered as N414BA, previously belonged to Out Health Systems LLC in Pima, Arizona, which stated it sold the plane to a group of individuals earlier in 2023.