Optimal Health Systems LLC- History of Flight:
On June 8, 2025, at about 1230 local time, a Cessna 414, N414BA, was destroyed when it impacted the ocean shortly after takeoff from San Diego International Airport (SAN/KSAN), San Diego, California. The pilot and five passengers sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was registered to Optimal Health Systems LLC out of Pima, Arizona, and being operated by the pilot. The flight originated from KSAN, and was destined to the Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX/KPHX), Phoenix, Arizona.
According to preliminary flight-track history, on June 7, 2025, at about 1138 local time, the airplane departed Safford Regional Airport (SAD/KSAD), Safford, Arizona, on a flight to Phoenix. On the same day, at 1435 local time, the airplane departed Phoenix on a flight to San Diego. The airplane landed in San Diego at 1621. The accident flight was the return trip to Phoenix.
According to preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast data, at 1224 local time, the airplane departed runway 27 at KSAN and entered a climbing left turn to an altitude of 1,600 ft. (figure 1)
Figure 1: Flight Path (copyright ADS-B and Google Earth)
According to ATC communications, the KSAN tower asked the pilot to contact Socal departure. The pilot responded "Over to to Socal, 4BA." The pilot then said "Socal Departure, Cessna 414BA is with you at 1,000." The controller responded "N414BA, Socal Departure, radar contact." Then asked the pilot to turn left heading 180. The pilot responded "Left heading 180, 4BA." According to ADS-B data, the airplane did enter a left turn towards 180, but at the same time, it started a gradual descent from 1,600 ft. At 1227:44, the airplane descended to 1,500 ft while maintaining a 180 heading. A few seconds later, at 1227:56, the airplane began a climb to 1,800 ft while turning left towards the east. At about 1228:17, the airplane entered a descending left hand turn, which was followed by the pilot was being asked by the controller about his altitude, he responded "1000', 4BA." The controller immediately issued a low altitude alert and advised the pilot to climb and maintain 4,000 ft. The airplane descended as low as 200 ft. At one point, the airplane had an average rate of -16,000 feet per minute (fpm). At about 1228:31, after reaching 200 ft, the airplane was able to recover and climb back to 1,500 ft (Figure 2). For the next minute, the flight path appeared to be stable, but at 1229:28, the airplane entered another descending left hand turn. At 1229:41, the airplane reached an altitude of 800 ft before recovering for a second time (Figure 3). It climbed to about 1800 ft, but at 1230:08, it entered a final descending left hand turn before it disappeared from radar over the ocean, about 2 miles west offshore. The last ADS-B return was recorded at 1230:23, the airplane was at 500 ft, 119 knots groundspeed, and descending 6400 feet per minute (fpm). (Figure 4)
Figure 2: First Dive (copyright Flysto)
Figure 3: Second Dive (copyright Flysto)
Figure 4: Last ADS-B Return (copyright Flysto)
After the first dive, the controller asked the pilot if he needed any assistance. The pilot replied "Affirm, if I could get...", the controller asked the pilot "N414BA what seems to be the issue?" The pilot replied "Uhh just struggling right now to maintain heading and climb." The controller then said "N414BA, you're struggling to maintain altitude and headings. Maintain as high as you can for now, at least above 2,000." The pilot replied "Maintain above 2,000', 4BA." The controller then suggested the following "N414BA, The closest airport I can get you to is North Island Airport, which is off to your left in like 1 mile. Do you see that?" The pilot replied "Negative, 4BA." The controller then made another suggestion "N414BA, there is an airport off of your east side, east side, and about three miles is a criss-cross runway. It's North Island and it is your closest airfield." A few seconds later, the pilot sent 4 mayday calls in a panicked voice. This was the last transmission from the plane. The controller then said "N414BA, If you see North Island, you're cleared to land. 4BA, if you see the airport, you are cleared to land." and "4BA, approach... 4BA, low altitude alert. Climb immediately. 4BA, radar contact lost 6 southwest of San Diego airport."
A witness, who was surfing senset cliffs near the accident reported that the airplane "went in at full throttle." Another witness stated "I saw him come down at angle. He wasn't flying straight to the ground. The next time he came out of the clouds, he went straight into the water. Full throttle."
Figure 5 shows the vertical speed profile for the accident flight, highlighted point was during the initial dive to 200 ft.
Figure 6 shows the speed profile for the accident flight.
Figure 5: Vertical Speed Profile (coypright Flysto)
Figure 6: Speed Profile (copyright Flysto)
- Pilot Info:
Non known at the moment.
- Aircraft Info:
(Accident Aircraft, copyright aircraft.com)
The airplane was a 1970 Cessna 414, serial number 414-0047. Two Continental TSIO-520-J engines provided thrust through constant-speed,
three-blade, McCauley 3AF32C93-NR propellers, rated at 285 HP. The low-wing airplane was of
conventional aluminum construction, was equipped with a retractable tricycle landing gear, and had a
pressurized cabin that was configured to seat six people. The airplane was equipped for night
operations in IMC conditions.
(Cockpit, copyright aircraft.com)
According to a sale listing of the aircraft, the airframe had accumulated a total service time of 9508.0 hours.
At the time of the listing, the left engine had accumulated a total service time of 3,915.3 hours since new and 1,953.6 hours since being overhauled on March 2008. The left propeller had accumulated 1,779 hours since being overhauled on March 2017.
At the time of the listing, the right engine had accumulated a total service time of 3669.4 hours since new and 1,072.9 hours since being overhauled on May 2009. The right propeller had accumulated 2,157 hours since being overhauled on March 2017.
The current registered operator, stated that the airplane was sold to a private individual in 2023, which suggests the FAA registry is outdated.
- Wrecakge and Impact Information:
The wreckage has not been located at the time of this writing.
- Airport
San Diego International Airport was located about 2 miles west of San Diego, California. It had one paved landing surface for airplanes which was designated as 9/27. The airport had an air traffic control tower that operated 24-hours a day.
According to the FAA Chart Supplements, runway 9/27 was a 9,401-foot-long and 200-foot-wide, grooved, asphalt, and concrete runway. Runway 27 was equipped with 4-light PAPI system and had 7,591 ft of runway available for landing and 9,401 ft available for takeoff. The runway had an 1,810-foot displaced threshold.
- Weather:
- (1) Brief:
The nearest recorded weather at KNUC, at 1220 (about 10 minutes before the accident), included: winds 300 at 7 knots, 10 miles visibility, an overcast layer (OVC) 1500ft AGL, temperature: 19°C, dewpoint 14°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.00 inches of mercury.
Another nearby weather recording station at KNZY, at 1243 (about 13 minutes after the accident), included: winds 310 at 10 knots, 10 miles visibility, an overcast layer (OVC) 1500ft AGL, temperature: 19°C, dewpoint 14°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.97 inches of mercury.
- (2) METARs:
METAR KSAN 081851Z 28006KT 10SM OVC013 18/14 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP161 T01830144 $
METAR KSAN 081920Z 30007KT 10SM OVC015 19/14 A3000 RMK AO2 T01890144 $
METAR KSAN 081951Z 29007KT 10SM OVC015 19/15 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP156 T01890150 $
METAR KSAN 082026Z 29008KT 10SM OVC015 19/14 A2998 RMK AO2 T01940144 $
METAR KNZY 081852Z 32009KT 10SM OVC010 18/14 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP154 T01780144
METAR KNZY 081943Z 31010KT 10SM OVC015 19/14 A2997 RMK AO2 T01890144
METAR KNZY 081952Z 31009KT 10SM OVC015 19/14 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP149 T01890144
METAR KNZY 082052Z 29009KT 10SM BKN015 19/14 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP144 T01890144 58012
- (3) Area Forecast Discussion:
- According to the NWS Area Forecast Discussion for San Diego at 900 AM PDT on Sun Jun 8 2025:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Diego CA
900 AM PDT Sun Jun 8 2025
.SYNOPSIS...
The warming trend sets in through midweek, peaking Monday through
Wednesday for inland areas, before a slow cooldown towards the
end of the week. The marine layer becomes shallower through mid
week with night and morning low clouds for the coastal areas and
western valleys.
&&
.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...
.UPDATE...
No meaningful shift in the forecast from the previous package. The
deep marine layer is quickly eroding from inland areas and will
filter to the coast through the morning. Some light patchy drizzle
was observed this morning, but increasing heights in the coming
days will favor a shallower marine layer with limited drizzle
potential. Still, the marine layer will persist across the coastal
areas each morning, limiting heating while the deserts warm with
the thermal ridge axis displaced to the east. Confidence has
decreased on exceeding 110F in the lower deserts and Coachella
Valley on Tuesday, but conditions remain favorable for
temperatures at least 5-10 degrees above normal for eastern areas
Monday through Wednesday.
.PREVIOUS FORECAST FROM 247 AM...
Marine layer low clouds are slowly making their way into the
Inland Empire with clear skies elsewhere. The marine layer is more
shallow than last night with a cloud deck that is not quite as
thick, limiting the potential for drizzle this morning. Clearing
will be a struggle for the coastal areas, especially in San Diego
County where the gloom is likely to persist through the day.
An upper level ridge of high pressure tries to build in from the
south today, though the closed upper low slowly inches eastwards
towards the Central/So Cal coast. A few degrees of warming is
expected for inland areas, with generally little change closer to
the coast as the persistent marine layer keeps temps down. 00Z
deterministic models, supported by about 70% of the global
ensemble members, show the forecast track of the upper low has
shifted further south as it digs into southeast CA on Monday with
the upper ridge amplifying off the coast. Latest NBM runs have not
caught on to this shift yet, but if it holds it could result in
less warming on Monday than originally thought. The struggle
continues into Tuesday and possibly even Wednesday as there are
hints of a gulf surge into the lower deserts both days. This
added moisture could dampen heating by about 5 degrees in those
areas should the surge occur and moisture doesn`t mix out early in
the day. If the moisture doesn`t materialize, the building ridge
could easily produce temperatures near 110 in the lower deserts.
Confidence is much higher in continued warming for inland areas
Tuesday and Wednesday as the upper ridge strengthens.
An upper level trough slowly amplifies off the West Coast for the
latter half of the week, though the trend has been towards this
trough being positioned further west and forcing a strengthening
upper ridge near the Four Corners region, with So Cal under dry
southwesterly flow wedged between the two. The result is slower
and less noticeable cooling with only subtle changes in the
marine layer depth Thursday through next weekend.
&&
.AVIATION...
081600Z....Coast/Valleys...OVC low clouds with bases 500-1200 ft MSL
have filled in much of the coastal basin. Low clouds will clear
inland areas through 18z, with partial and intermittent clearing for
coastal areas this afternoon. Low clouds slowly push inland again
after 00z Monday. Patchy cig coverage expected to reach portions of
the Inland Empire 09-12Z Mon. Bases tonight into Mon AM are expected
to be 500-1200 ft MSL, with vis restrictions 2-4 SM in patchy FG for
elevated inland valleys.
Mountains/Deserts...Mostly clear skies and unrestricted VIS
through tonight.
According to the NWS Area Forecast Discussion for San Diego at 112 PM PDT on Sun Jun 8 2025:Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Diego CA
112 PM PDT Sun Jun 8 2025
.SYNOPSIS...
A warming trend sets in through midweek, peaking Tuesday and
Wednesday for inland and desert areas, before a very slight
cooldown towards the end of the week. Above normal temperatures
may return by the weekend. The marine layer becomes shallower
through mid week with night and morning low clouds for the coastal
areas and western valleys.
&&
.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...
The marine layer made it sufficiently inland this morning but
continues to burn off quickly with a slightly shallower marine layer
poised to push inland again tonight, persisting through at least mid
week. Water vapor imagery currently shows an upper level low moving
into Central California while high pressure amplifies off the
coast of Baja. As the low moves into California today, it becomes
an open trough and sweeps down into western Arizona on Monday,
limiting the influence of the ridge to the southwest. As such,
high temperatures on Monday look similar to highs today, with only
slight warming by a degree or two for the deserts and Coachella
Valley.
Tuesday through Thursday, the ridge shifts slightly northeast and a
quick warm up ensues for nearly all locations east of the coasts.
One noticeable change in the models compared to previous runs is the
indication of some gulf moisture trying to sneak up into the deserts
and Coachella Valley on Tuesday and moreso on Wednesday, which
would severely limit the warming potential there. Should this
occur, highs in the low deserts and Coachella valley may be cooler
by around 3-7 degrees compared to the current forecasted highs
for both Tuesday and Wednesday. At this point, chances of
exceeding 105F in the Coachella Valley on Tuesday are around 70%
while the chance for exceeding 110F is around 40%. Elsewhere, the
shift of the high to the north has encouraged significant heating
over the previous forecast, with highs for many spots in the
Inland Empire now expected to be well over 90F, with around a 60%
chance of hitting or exceeding 95F both Tuesday and Wednesday for
locations like San Bernardino and Hemet. For the coastal regions,
a shallower marine layer would support a slightly quicker burn off
and warmer afternoons, but at this point the moderate onshore
flow looks to help it persist along the direct coast through at
least mid week, helping hold temperatures near normal for mid June
while other locations heat up.
There is still strong agreement between the global models with an
upper low transversing south along the Canadian coastline, breaking
down the ridge and zonal flow aloft settles in over the region.
Newest guidance slows down this low and shifts the high into Baja
late week and eventually into the Four Corners this weekend, with
weak ridging over SoCal for the end of the week and stronger
ridging for the weekend. Currently, ensemble members support this
pattern compared to the more aggressive troughing, and this would
prevent much cooling off for inland areas and the deserts through
the end of the week. Should this pan out, there may be more
stagnant temperatures or only a slight cooldown into the end of
the week with a quick warm up this weekend. There remains a lot of
uncertainty with the placement of the high as well as the
Canadian low, but have generally adjusted temperatures to match
this warmer solution in the long term.
&&
.AVIATION...
082000Z....Coast/Valleys...OVC low clouds with bases 1200-2000 ft
MSL will linger along the immediate coast through the afternoon with
only partial and intermittent clearing. Clear skies will prevail in
the valleys. Low clouds slowly push inland again after 00z Mon.
Patchy cig coverage expected to reach portions of the Inland Empire
09-12Z Mon. Bases tonight into Mon AM are expected to be 500-1200 ft
MSL, with vis restrictions 2-4 SM in patchy FG for elevated inland
valleys. Low clouds expected to clear to the coast 16-18Z Mon, with
partial and intermittent clearing expected again along the immediate
coast Mon afternoon.
Mountains/Deserts...Mostly clear skies and unrestricted VIS
through Monday.
- Additional Info:
NONE
