A tragic small aircraft crash off the San Diego coast has left six people dead, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The aircraft, a twin-engine Cessna 414, went down near Point Loma after departing from San Diego (SAN). The plane was returning to Phoenix, Arizona (PHX), one day after flying out from the state. Operated privately and not affiliated with a commercial airline, the aircraft’s last recorded altitude was just 1,000 feet before controllers lost contact. The Cessna 414, a light twin-engine aircraft, crashed at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time on Sunday. FAA officials confirmed that all six individuals on board perished in the incident. The U.S. Coast Guard later discovered a debris field roughly 3 miles off the coast of Point Loma, where the water depth is around 200 feet (61 meters). Audio from LiveATC.net revealed the pilot was experiencing difficulty maintaining heading and altitude. Air traffic controllers advised the pilot to ascend to 4,000 feet, but the aircraft remained around 1,000 feet. The pilot was then instructed to divert to the U.S. Naval Air Station North Island (NZY) on Coronado Island, but reported poor visibility and could not locate the runway. Moments before the crash, the pilot issued several “Mayday” distress calls before radar contact was lost. Eyewitness Tyson Wislofsky, who was surfing nearby, reported seeing the aircraft descend sharply into the ocean after briefly re-emerging from the clouds. Although FAA records list Optimal Health Systems, based in Pima, Arizona, as the aircraft’s registered owner, the company stated it sold the plane to private buyers in 2023. Founder Doug Grant said several passengers were known personally to the company and offered condolences to the families affected. The FAA redirected questions about the plane’s ownership to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which has yet to release additional details on the investigation or identify the victims.