Small Plane Crash in Southern California Kills Six, Including Notable Figures

A small private jet crash-landed in San Diego last month, resulting in the deaths of all six individuals onboard, among them a well-known drummer and a music producer believed to have piloted the aircraft. The incident occurred in the early hours of May 22 in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood as the plane approached Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.

The aircraft, a Cessna 550 Citation, was en route from Teterboro Airport with a stop in Wichita, Kansas. As it neared its destination, the pilot—believed to be Dave Shapiro—flying below the minimum safe altitude, clipped power lines approximately two miles from the airport at about 95 feet above ground. This collision caused significant damage to the tail and stabilizers of the jet, leading to the crash.

All five passengers and the pilot perished in the crash, which also caused damage to a nearby home and ignited multiple vehicles with debris and jet fuel spilled across the street. Several ground injuries were minor.

The preliminary investigation revealed that adverse weather conditions, combined with inoperable airport weather and runway lighting systems—out of service for over three years—contributed to the tragedy. The weather data system failure was linked to a power surge.

The aircraft’s approach was complicated by the inability to access accurate weather information and runway alignment indicators, which play a crucial role in safe landings during poor visibility. Notably, the pilot attempted to activate the runway lights shortly before crashing but continued descent below the safe altitude, leading to the fatal collision.

Victims and Additional Details

The victims included Daniel Williams, a 39-year-old former drummer for The Devil Wears Prada, and music producer Dave Shapiro. Additional victims were Emma Huke and Kendall Fortner, staff members of Sound Talent Group, along with photographer Celina Kenyon and software engineer Dominic Damian, who owned a local jiu-jitsu school.

The aircraft belonged to Shapiro, who was a licensed pilot. Investigators are still examining the exact causes, with a final report expected in up to two years.

Additional Context

The crash highlighted longstanding issues with runway lighting systems at Montgomery-Gibbs airport, which had been out of operation for years, complicating safe landings under certain conditions.