SAN DIEGO – Six people have been killed in a tragic crash of a small aircraft off the San Diego coast, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The aircraft, a twin-engine Cessna 414, departed from San Diego (SAN), before descending near Point Roma.
The plane had returned to Phoenix, Arizona (PHX) a day after its flight out of the state. The last recorded altitude of an aircraft operated personally and not affiliated with commercial airlines was just 1,000 feet, when the controller lost contact.
Six people died in a crash on a plane
The Cessna 414, a light twin-engine aircraft, crashed on Sunday around 12:30pm local time. FAA officials confirmed that all six people on board were killed in the incident.
The US Coast Guard later discovered a garbage field about three miles from the coast of Point Roma. There, the water is about 200 feet (61 meters).
Audio on liveatc.net revealed that pilots have difficulty maintaining headlines and altitude. Air traffic controllers advised the pilot to rise to 4,000 feet, but the aircraft remained around 1,000 feet.
The pilot was then instructed to detour to the US Naval Air Base (NZY) on Coronado Island, but reported that he was unable to find the runway due to inadequate visibility.
The pilot just before the crash crash issued several “mayday” distress calls before radar contact was lost. Witness Tyson Whislovsky, who was surfing nearby, reported that he saw the aircraft descend sharply into the ocean after a temporary re-emergence from the clouds.
FAA Records stated that as the registered owner of the aircraft to the optimal health system based in Pima, Arizona, the company sold the plane to a private buyer in 2023.
Founder Doug Grant said several passengers were personally known to the company and expressed sadness for the affected families.
The FAA redirected questions regarding plane ownership to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). This has not yet released any additional details about the investigation or has not identified the victim.
The recent aviation tragedy in San Diego
The crash followed the recent Cessna accident in San Diego, killing six people after crashing in fog.
The private jet crashed into a residential area during an approach to San Diego's Montgomery Gibbs Executive Airport early on May 22, 2025, causing all six to injure eight residents on the ground.
The accident occurred under difficult weather conditions that caused severe visibility and created dangerous flight conditions.
Registered as the N666DS, Cessna Quote II from 1985 attacked the Murphy Canyon area around 3:45am while attempting to land on Runway 28r. The aircraft crashed into a power line before cutting the house and crashing into a military residential area, one completely destroyed and damaged ten homes.
Dave Shapiro, a 42-year-old music executive who owned the aircraft through Daviation LLC, piloted the jet during a deadly approach. Daniel Williams, a former drummer for Devil Wares Prada, traveled as a passenger and shared social media photos from the plane shortly before his departure.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have begun investigating the crash. Early findings suggest that pilot fatigue and limited landing alternatives may have contributed to the situation of the accident.
The aircraft departed from Teterboro Airport, New Jersey at 11:15pm on May 21st, creating a tough overnight flight schedule. The crew stopped for 45 minutes at Colonel James Jabala Airport in Wichita, Kansas, and refueled before continuing to San Diego, accumulating nearly total flight time.
The thick fog with half a mile of visibility and 200 feet of cloud ceiling complicated the final approach phase. These conditions significantly exceeded the normal landing minimum, creating dangerous flight conditions for single-wing operation.
ATC recording reveals the final moment
Public air traffic control records from Vasaviation provide insight into the final communication with the pilot's controller. Shapiro maintained a calm and professional attitude throughout the exchange despite the deterioration of weather conditions.
The pilot requested updated weather information and said he wanted to see what's here. After receiving the prediction, he replied, “It's impeccably, it doesn't sound great, but we'll give it a try.”
As conditions deteriorated, Shapiro asked about alternative airports, but found that nearby facilities did not offer significant improvements to weather conditions. His ultimate communication revealed the pressure of the situation. “We hope we don't see you…but we may have to.”
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