San Diego, CA – A private plane tragically crashed into a residential neighborhood in San Diego early Thursday morning after clipping power lines, resulting in the deaths of Dave Shapiro, co-founder of the music talent agency Sound Talent Group, and two of his employees. The crash in a U.S. Navy-owned housing area ignited at least one home and several vehicles, prompting the evacuation of approximately 100 residents.
The San Diego Police Department confirmed the evacuation of residents to a nearby elementary school serving as a temporary shelter.
The flight, originating from New Jersey with a refueling stop in Kansas, was en route to San Diego’s Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport when the crash occurred approximately 2 miles (3 kilometers) from its intended destination.
While San Diego officials initially reported two fatalities, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) later stated that the total number of deaths remained unknown. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that six individuals were on board the aircraft.
The Cessna aircraft crashed in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood amidst foggy conditions, impacting power lines before plummeting into at least one residence and igniting multiple parked vehicles. Assistant San Diego Fire Chief Dan Eddy described the fog as exceptionally dense, stating, “You could barely see in front of you.” Authorities reported that several individuals sustained injuries while attempting to evacuate, and others were treated for smoke inhalation.
Devastating Scene on the Ground
The impact of the crash left a horrific scene on the ground. At least one home was completely destroyed, exhibiting severe fire damage and a partially collapsed roof. Approximately ten other residences sustained varying degrees of damage. The intense heat from the crash melted and scorched around half a dozen vehicles into burned-out shells. Jet fuel spilled down the street, creating a lingering odor in the air as authorities worked to extinguish a persistent car fire that produced significant smoke.
Christopher Moore, a resident living a street away from the crash site, recounted being awakened by a loud explosion and witnessing smoke outside his window. He and his wife immediately evacuated their three young children. En route out of the neighborhood, they observed a car engulfed in flames.
Amidst the chaos, police officers successfully rescued multiple animals, including three husky puppies, who were safely transported away from the scene in a wagon.
Loss of Music Industry Leader
The Sound Talent Group confirmed the death of its co-founder, Dave Shapiro, in the crash. The FAA listed Shapiro as the owner of the aircraft and noted that he held a pilot’s license. The agency did not release the names of the other two employees who perished.
Sound Talent Group has represented a diverse roster of artists, including the popular band Hanson, singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton, and the Canadian rock group Sum 41. Shapiro was also the owner of Velocity Records, a label for American rock bands such as rosecoloredworld and Concrete Castles, as well as the Japanese heavy metal band Nemophila. Additionally, Shapiro owned a flight school, Velocity Aviation.
Flight Details and Investigation Underway
According to the NTSB, the aircraft involved was a Cessna Citation II jet. FlightAware, a flight tracking website, indicated that the plane was scheduled to arrive at Montgomery-Gibbs Airport at 3:47 a.m. after departing from Colonel James Jabara Airport in Wichita, Kansas, where it made a refueling stop. The flight originated in Teterboro, New Jersey, near Manhattan, on Wednesday night. Teterboro Airport is frequently used by private and corporate aircraft.
The NTSB has launched a full investigation into the crash.
Past Aviation Incidents in San Diego
This tragic event is not the first aviation disaster to affect San Diego neighborhoods. In October 2021, a twin-engine plane crashed into a suburb, killing the pilot and a UPS delivery driver and damaging homes. In December 2008, a U.S. Marine Corps fighter jet crashed into a house in the University City neighborhood, resulting in four fatalities.
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