A tragic crash of a twin-engine Cessna 414 near Point Loma, a peninsula in San Diego, claimed the lives of all six people aboard on Sunday afternoon. The small aircraft had departed from San Diego International Airport and was en route to Phoenix, Arizona.
Shortly after takeoff, pilot Landon Baldwin reported engine trouble in a distress call to air traffic control. Cockpit audio captured his voice as he attempted to return to land at North Island Navy Station. Despite being cleared to land, he issued a chilling “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” just minutes later.
Air traffic control urged Baldwin to climb to 4,000 feet after the plane hovered at only 1,000 feet above water. Moments later, contact was lost.
The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search and rescue operation, locating the debris about five miles offshore. All six occupants perished in the crash. While full identities have not been released, it’s believed Baldwin’s wife, Tori Baldwin, was among the victims, along with a father and his three adult sons from Arizona.
The aircraft had previously belonged to Optimal Health Services and was sold to a private owner in 2023. Doug Grant, founder of the company, offered heartfelt condolences, calling the victims “incredible members of our small community.”
Eyewitness Tyson Wislofsky described seeing the jet descend, briefly climb, then nosedive into the ocean. “It was dead silent after the splash,” he said, emphasizing the severity of the crash.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the fatal accident.
