Music agent among 6 dead in fiery San Diego jet crash

SAN DIEGO. A private jet carrying six people, including renowned music talent agent Dave Shapiro, crashed into a residential neighborhood in San Diego early Thursday morning after hitting a power line in heavy fog, killing all aboard and setting off a massive fire that destroyed multiple homes and vehicles.

The aircraft, a 1985 Cessna 550 Citation, was en route to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport when it crashed around 3:45 a.m. in the Murphy Canyon area, the largest U.S. Navy-owned housing neighborhood in the country. The plane had taken off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and made a fuel stop in Wichita, Kansas, before continuing to California.

Flames engulfed a home and parts of the neighborhood after the jet exploded on impact. “I can’t quite put words to describe what the scene looks like, but with the jet fuel going down the street, and everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see,” said San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl.

The crash killed Shapiro, co-founder of Sound Talent Group, along with two employees of the agency. Shapiro also owned Velocity Records. In a statement, Sound Talent Group said:

“We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues, and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today’s tragedy.”

Sound Talent Group has represented high-profile artists such as Hanson, known for their 1990s hit “MMMBop”, Vanessa Carlton, and Sum 41.

Also aboard the flight was Daniel Williams, former drummer of the metal band The Devil Wears Prada. Hours before the crash, Williams had posted on Instagram that he was boarding the plane with Shapiro. The band later paid tribute on Instagram, writing:

“No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.”

The plane’s impact destroyed the McCarty family’s home. Ben McCarty, a Navy servicemember of 13 years, described the terrifying scene.

“My wife was screaming, and she’s like, ‘There’s a fire,’” he told local station KGTV.
“It put my truck into our living room.”

The roof of their home partially collapsed, and flames consumed both of their vehicles. They escaped by climbing over a backyard fence with their children and dogs, helped by neighbors.

Another resident, Ariya Waterworth, recalled waking to a “whooshing sound” followed by a fireball outside her window. Firefighters helped her and her two children escape. One of their vehicles was “completely disintegrated.”

“I definitely do feel blessed, because we’ve been spared,” she said.

In total, at least 10 homes were damaged, and more than 100 residents were evacuated. As of late Thursday, jet fuel continued to run down Salmon Street, with smoke and fumes lingering throughout the area.

“We have jet fuel all over the place,” said Assistant San Diego Fire Chief Dan Eddy, who noted that morning’s fog was so thick, “you could barely see in front of you.”

According to Elliot Simpson of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the aircraft’s debris field was extensive, with sections of the wing found behind homes and fragments beneath power lines.

Simpson said the jet was likely operating under instrument flight rules due to limited visibility. Aviation attorney Barry Newman explained that at Montgomery-Gibbs, pilots must rely on visual confirmation once descending to 673 feet.

“If a pilot descends to that level and he can’t see the runway, he has to call for a missed approach or divert to another airport,” said Newman.

The NTSB will continue gathering evidence through Friday and has requested video or eyewitness accounts from the public.

History of San Diego Air Disasters

This incident is the latest in a string of aviation tragedies in the city. In October 2021, a twin-engine plane crashed into a San Diego suburb, killing the pilot and a UPS driver and destroying homes. In December 2008, a U.S. Marine Corps jet crashed into a University City home, killing four civilians. That crash was later blamed on mechanical failure and human error.

As investigators comb through the wreckage of Thursday’s crash, families of the victims and an entire community are left grappling with grief, shock, and the loss of lives that left a lasting impact in both the music world and beyond.