A routine flight from San Diego to Phoenix ended in tragedy when a Cessna 414 crashed into the ocean near Sunset Cliffs, California. The twin-engine plane, carrying six people, vanished from radar just minutes after takeoff. Radio transmissions revealed the pilot was struggling to maintain altitude and issued a final “Mayday” call before the aircraft disappeared. All six passengers and crew are presumed dead.
Despite urgent instructions from air traffic control to divert and climb, the pilot was unable to regain control of the plane. The aircraft went down about five miles offshore, where search teams quickly found debris and an oil slick on the water’s surface. Rescue divers were forced to suspend operations due to the ocean’s depth, believed to be over 200 feet. Sadly, no survivors were recovered from the crash site.
Among the victims were Jeremy Bingham and his three sons — Bailey, Gavin, and Ayden — along with pilot Landon Baldwin and his pregnant wife, Torrie. Landon was known as a devoted father and an experienced pilot. The loss has devastated both families and deeply affected their local communities, which have come together in grief.
Obituaries honored the Bingham family’s hard work, kindness, and strong bond, celebrating the lives they built together. A memorial service is planned for June 14 at Eastern Arizona College’s football field to remember the family. Meanwhile, investigators continue to examine the cause of the crash as loved ones struggle to accept the heartbreaking loss.