Plane crash in San Diego results in the death of a music agency co-founder
Plane Crash in San Diego Neighborhood Kills Six, Including Music Talent Agency Co-Founder
A small plane crash on Thursday morning in the San Diego neighborhood of Murphy Canyon resulted in the tragic loss of six lives, including Dave Shapiro, co-founder of Sound Talent Group, according to a statement from the agency.
The gruesome crash spewed jet fuel and set off a large fire that damaged several buildings and multiple cars, as announced by local authorities. The crash occurred shortly before 4:00 a.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with the plane losing altitude just seconds away from landing.
The Cessna 550, a small private jet, struck power lines before colliding with a house in the neighborhood, as reported by an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). There were six people on board, as per the FAA.
Among the victims were 42-year-old Dave Shapiro, co-founder of Sound Talent Group; 24-year-old Kendall Fortner, and 25-year-old Emma Huke, who were both booking associates with the agency. A statement from Sound Talent Group confirmed their identities.
San Diego County Medical Examiner lists 36-year-old Celina Kenyon as a victim but did not specify her connection to the plane crash.
The crash site was located around 2 miles southeast of Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, where the plane had been flying from Wichita, Kansas. Preliminary flight data indicated that the plane was roughly 500 feet in the air at its last radar check-in, according to the FAA.
The crash resulted in the displacement of over 100 people and destroyed multiple homes. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria emphasized the city's support for those impacted by this tragic event.
Visibility was challenging due to thick fog in the area, and there was no mayday call from the pilot before the crash. The investigation into the crash's cause is ongoing, with the NTSB looking into factors like weather conditions, runway light issues, and potential pilot experience.
In a joint statement with the police department, authorities confirmed the deaths of two individuals, reportedly from the plane, though the exact number of deceased is still being determined. The rest of the fatalities appeared to be passengers on the plane itself.
Investigators are still searching for a potential cockpit voice recorder to aid in their investigation. Since the plane did not have a flight recorder, any clues or insights about the crash may be crucial in determining its cause.
- A statement from Sound Talent Group confirmed the identities of three of the victims: 42-year-old Dave Shapiro, co-founder, and 24-year-old Kendall Fortner, and 25-year-old Emma Huke, who were both booking associates with the agency.
- The San Diego County Medical Examiner lists 36-year-old Celina Kenyon as a victim, but did not specify her connection to the plane crash.
- The gruesome crash spewed jet fuel and set off a large fire that damaged several buildings and multiple cars, as announced by local authorities.
- Preliminary flight data indicated that the plane was roughly 500 feet in the air at its last radar check-in, according to the FAA.
- Visibility was challenging due to thick fog in the area, and there was no mayday call from the pilot before the crash.
- In addition to the lives lost due to the plane crash, over 100 people were displaced, and multiple homes were destroyed.
