Aviation accident in San Diego: NTSB verifies that the small aircraft collided with power lines prior to the fatal crash
A small aircraft, identified as a Cessna 550 Citation business jet, crashed into a U.S. Navy-owned residential neighborhood in San Diego on May 22, 2025, around 3:45 a.m. The impact caused an inferno that damaged more than a dozen homes and cars in the Murphy Canyon area.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the plane collided with high-tension power lines during its approach to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. All six individuals aboard the aircraft are presumed dead.
Music executive Dave Shapiro and drummer Daniel Williams were among the victims, according to Digital, although official confirmation is still pending. The aircraft departed from Teterboro, New Jersey, and was en route to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, making an intermediate stop in Wichita, Kansas.
As part of the ongoing investigation, NTSB officials are examining various factors. The automated surface observing system (ASOS), which provides pilots with weather conditions at the airport, was inoperative at the time of the accident due to a power surge. Air traffic control provided the pilot with weather conditions from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, located four miles north of Montgomery Airport.
Flight records indicate that the plane did not have a flight data recorder. However, there is a possibility that a cockpit voice recorder exists, and it will be a valuable asset in the investigation. The recovery of the wreckage is scheduled for Friday afternoon, marking the conclusion of the on-site portion of the probe.
Investigators will also be examining pilot qualifications, training, flight history, and other human factors that may have contributed to the accident. The aircraft's maintenance history and flight performance will also be assessed.
Meanwhile, only eight people sustained injuries on the ground due to the swift efforts of military families and residents helping each other evacuate. Approximately 100 residents were displaced, with relief efforts being coordinated by Liberty Military Housing and the Red Cross.
The cause of the San Diego plane crash remains under investigation by the NTSB, with support from the Federal Aviation Administration, Textron Aviation, Williams International Engines, air traffic control, and weather specialists.
As of now, the full findings and probable cause determination will not be revealed until the investigation concludes, which could take up to 18–24 months. The investigation encompasses various aspects, such as weather conditions, aviation systems, pilot factors, and airport systems, to determine the exact cause of the accident.
- Due to the Cessna 550 Citation business jet crash in San Diego, the local weather conditions provided by the automated surface observing system (ASOS) at the time of the accident will be a vital aspect for investigators to examine, as it was inoperative due to a power surge.
- The investigation into the San Diego plane crash will also delve deep into human factors, encompassing pilot qualifications, training, flight history, and other relevant aspects, to determine if these factors played a role in the accident.
- In the aftermath of the plane crash in San Diego, breaking news outlets such as Digital reported that music executive Dave Shapiro and drummer Daniel Williams were among the victims on board the aircraft. However, official confirmation is still pending.
- As part of the ongoing investigation, investigators will assess the aircraft's maintenance history and flight performance, as these factors could contribute to the understanding of what led to the accident.
- Technology will play a crucial role in the San Diego plane crash investigation since the aircraft did not have a flight data recorder, but there's a possibility that a cockpit voice recorder exists. Recovering and analyzing this device will be essential for gathering insight into the sequence of events leading up to the crash.
