A flight from San Diego to Phoenix ended in tragedy when a Cessna 414 crashed into the ocean near Sunset Cliffs, California, shortly after takeoff. The twin-engine aircraft, carrying six people, lost altitude and vanished from radar. In a chilling final radio transmission, the pilot issued a Mayday call, signaling distress just moments before the plane disappeared from view.
Air traffic control urged the pilot to climb and divert course, but he was unable to regain control. The aircraft crashed approximately five miles offshore. Search teams discovered debris and an oil slick, but due to the ocean’s depth of over 200 feet, rescue efforts were suspended. Authorities confirmed there were no survivors.
Among the victims were pilot Landon Baldwin and his pregnant wife, Torrie, as well as Jeremy Bingham and his three sons—Bailey, Gavin, and Ayden. Landon was remembered as a skilled pilot and a devoted family man. The tragedy has deeply impacted the families and surrounding communities, who have come together in mourning.
Obituaries praised the Bingham family’s warmth and dedication, and a memorial service is scheduled for June 14 at Eastern Arizona College. As the investigation continues into what caused the crash, loved ones are left grieving the sudden and heartbreaking loss.