Four Marines Die In Citation Crash

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Four Marines died when their UC-35D aircraft, a military version of a Cessna Citation Encore, crashed Wednesday night on approach to Miramar Marine Corps Air Station near San Diego.
  • The aircraft was returning from a routine training mission, making an instrument approach in foggy conditions, with no problems reported before the crash approximately 1.5 miles from the airstrip.
  • The four crew members were identified, and a military board will investigate the incident, which marks the first deadly crash on the base in over 20 years.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Four Marines died Wednesday night when their UC-35D aircraft, a military version of a Cessna Citation Encore, crashed on approach to Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, near San Diego. The plane crashed about 8:45 p.m., about a mile and a half east of the airstrip, and burned. The crew didn’t report any problems prior to the crash. They had been on a routine training mission to Grand Junction, Colo., and were on their way home. The aircraft was reportedly making an instrument approach, and there was fog in the area. It was the first deadly crash on the base in more than 20 years. The crash will be investigated by a military board. The Marines were identified as Lt. Col. T. Nicholson, 44; Lt. Col. Robert Zeisler, 46; Gunnery Sgt. Francisco Cortez, 42; and Lance Cpl. Jeremy Lindroth, 23.

Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox

SUBSCRIBE