A fiery early-morning plane crash rocked the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar community Thursday, claiming multiple lives and leaving scores of military families displaced. The private jet, a 1985 Cessna Citation II, slammed into the Murphy Canyon military housing neighborhood just east of Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport around 3:45 a.m. PT, igniting over a dozen homes and vehicles in the process.
The pilot has now been identified as Dave Shapiro, a prominent figure in the music industry and co-founder of Sound Talent Group. Shapiro, 42, was killed in the crash along with at least two of his colleagues. The aircraft is registered to Shapiro’s Alaska-based company, Velocity Aviation. In addition to running the agency and a record label, Shapiro was an experienced pilot known for his thrill-seeking lifestyle, having logged years of flight experience and even offering flight instruction.
Shapiro’s death sent shockwaves through the music industry. His client roster included acts like Sum 41, Silverstein, and Pierce the Veil, and his influence extended across punk, rock, and indie scenes, according to Billboard.com. But while tributes poured in from musicians and fans, military families at Miramar woke up to a nightmare far removed from the glitz of the entertainment world.
Former The Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams is at least one of the other confirmed passengers from the flight, with him posting the following stories prior to take off.
Flames and Fog: Chaos in Murphy Canyon
At the time of the crash, thick fog had reduced visibility to less than a half-mile, according to the National Weather Service. Officials report that the automated weather reporting system for Montgomery-Gibbs Airport was offline—leaving pilots without updated local conditions.
The impact site in the Santo Terrace neighborhood—a cluster of duplexes that houses active-duty families—was described as apocalyptic.
“When it hit the street, as the jet fuel went down, it took out every single car that was on both sides of the street,” said San Diego Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief Dan Eddy. “You can see that every single car was burning.”
More than 10 homes and multiple vehicles were engulfed in flames. Authorities evacuated around 100 residents, and at least eight people on the ground were injured, including one who required hospitalization for smoke inhalation. One Navy sailor, a damage controlman assigned to the USS Essex, reportedly assisted with rescuing a family—including children and dogs—from a nearby home using his own ladder, according to the San Diego Tribune.
“This Could’ve Been Any of Us”
Many service members and their families living under the Miramar flight path have long voiced concerns over the proximity to both military and civilian air traffic. Thursday’s disaster turned those fears into reality.
Gilbert Gonzalez, the Essex sailor who helped with rescues, lives just five houses away from the crash. “We are in the flight line of this airport. We see these things coming over our houses every day,” he said. “And you think about it—what if it just dropped one day? Never thought it would actually happen this way.”
Police said eight people on the ground were injured from the crash that claimed the lives of Shapiro and William, but the injuries were mostly minor.
Five of the eight injured were treated at an evacuation center and only one person was transported to the hospital.
Military Community Steps Up—Again
Despite the devastation, the military community responded as it always does in times of crisis: with swift, organized compassion.
Liberty Military Housing officials estimate that 40 to 50 families will be displaced, with 15 to 20 requiring new housing. Two local elementary schools, Miller and Hancock, closed for the day to serve as emergency shelters and childcare centers.
Volunteers, including neighbors and school staff, brought food, diapers, and even coloring books for children as families gathered in the nearby Navy Exchange parking lot. The San Diego Humane Society also dispatched rescue teams to assist with animals left behind in the chaos.
“I think what is really great is just because we are all military, we have that ‘we are in this together’ type deal,” said resident Esther Hoffman, who evacuated with her in-laws, young children, and pets.
Investigation Ongoing
The NTSB and FAA are now leading the investigation into the crash, with particular focus on weather conditions, the lack of airport visibility data, and potential pilot error. Shapiro’s Cessna had departed Teterboro, NJ, the day prior with a stopover in Wichita, KS, before attempting its final leg into San Diego.
This isn’t the first time a small aircraft has come down near Montgomery-Gibbs. In October 2021, a twin-engine plane crashed in the Santee area, killing two and destroying multiple homes. Thursday’s crash now raises fresh questions about the safety protocols in place for private jets flying low over populated, military-heavy areas.
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