November 7, 2013 - On Tuesday about 12:50 PM a chronically ill California man, Greg McFadden, 61 had gone up in a helicopter for a 30-minute scenic tour of the Southern California coast provided by Cardinal Air Services located at Fullerton Municipal Airport, Orange County, California. What was to be a normal flight turned into any thing but normal. 

15 minuets into the flight at or about 1,000 feet over Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, McFadden unbuckled his seatbelt, opened the Robinson R44 helicopter door over open water and jumped out to his death. The pilot, Corbin Street, 25 attempted to grab McFadden by the arm to prevent him from jumping from the helicopter but was unable to maintain control over the helicopter and hold McFadden. 

McFadden had booked the $310 flight for himself and his son, but he was the only one who showed up for the flight. It is believed that McFadden committed suicide due to health issues he had been dealing with for the past 15 years. 

On Sunday McFadden had booked a scenic helicopter tour for two with OC Helicopters at John Wayne Airport for a Monday flight. On Monday McFadden had showed up alone and hours before the flight. The owner, Ric Webb reported McFadden was dressed wearing shorts, with flip-flops and was carrying a ripped plastic grocery bag. The owner became concerned with his behavior and appearance.