Runway Light Failure Blamed in Fatal Crash \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A private jet crash in San Diego killed six people, including music industry pioneer Dave Shapiro. The plane hit power lines while attempting to land in heavy fog with no working runway lights. Investigators cite weather, faulty systems, and miscommunication as contributing factors.
Quick Looks
- Six people killed, including Sound Talent Group co-founder Dave Shapiro
- Crash occurred amid heavy fog, power failure, and a faulty weather alert system
- Aircraft hit power lines while approaching Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport
- FAA had issued notice of runway light outage
- Victims include metal drummer Daniel Williams and agency staff
- Pilot considered diverting but attempted landing despite conditions
- Shapiro remembered as a transformative figure in alternative music
- U.S. aviation experiencing a rise in deadly incidents in 2024
Deep Look
A tragic aviation accident has sent shockwaves through both the music world and aviation safety community. A private jet crash in San Diego early Thursday morning killed all six people on board, including Dave Shapiro, a transformative figure in the alternative and hard rock music scene. The fatal incident occurred amid dense fog and a series of reported airport system failures, prompting ongoing investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
A Fatal Descent in the Fog
The Cessna 550 Citation, a small business jet, was en route from New Jersey to San Diego with a scheduled refueling stop in Kansas. The crash occurred around 4 a.m. just two miles from its intended destination—Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. According to Dan Baker of the NTSB, the aircraft struck power lines and crashed into a residential neighborhood, igniting concerns about critical system lapses at the airport.
Preliminary findings reveal that the runway lights at Montgomery-Gibbs were nonfunctional at the time of the crash. Compounding the issue was a broken weather alert system. Despite these red flags, the pilot communicated to air traffic control that they were aware of the poor conditions but still chose to proceed with the landing attempt. The pilot reportedly said, “Doesn’t sound great, but we’ll give it a go,” a chilling statement given the tragic outcome.
Thick fog reduced visibility to nearly zero. “You could barely see in front of you,” said Assistant San Diego Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy, emphasizing the hazardous conditions. While the exact sequence of events leading to the crash could take up to a year to fully determine, investigators are scrutinizing how multiple system failures may have converged to create a perfect storm of risk.
Remembering Dave Shapiro: A Visionary in Music
Dave Shapiro, 42, was more than a music executive—he was a visionary who helped reshape the modern music touring landscape. As co-founder of Sound Talent Group, Shapiro represented a dynamic array of artists spanning from heavy metal titans like Parkway Drive and Pierce The Veil to pop mainstays like Vanessa Carlton and Hanson.
Shapiro began his career as a musician, playing in a high school band called Count the Stars. While his band never hit mainstream fame, the relationships he cultivated during those early years laid the foundation for his professional success. He channeled his passion into a mission: giving artists a platform and building a touring community that upheld respect, creativity, and trust.
Mike Shea, founder of Alternative Press Magazine, called Shapiro a “guiding force” in a frequently exploitative industry. “He was a beautiful soul, a beautiful person, an inspiration,” Shea said, adding that Shapiro was widely respected not only for his business acumen but also for his integrity and kindness.
Dayna Ghiraldi-Travers, founder of Big Picture Media, echoed this sentiment. “He would listen to any band you put in front of him to give them a chance,” she said. In an industry often accused of gatekeeping, Shapiro’s open-door attitude made him beloved among both emerging and established artists.
Other Victims Mourned
Among the other victims was Daniel Williams, former drummer of the Ohio-based metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada. Known for his precision and power behind the drums, Williams had left an indelible mark on fans and fellow musicians alike.
Also killed were two Sound Talent Group employees: Kendall Fortner, 24, and Emma Huke, 25—both promising young professionals with bright futures ahead in the music business. Celina Marie Rose Kenyon, 36, was also aboard the plane, though she was not employed by the agency. The San Diego coroner’s office is still working to identify the sixth victim.
Despite the devastating loss of life, it’s worth noting that no one on the ground was killed. Eight individuals sustained minor injuries, but the crash’s proximity to residential homes underscores how much worse it could have been.
A Grim Year for U.S. Aviation
The San Diego crash adds to what has been a grim year for aviation in the United States. In January, a catastrophic collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army helicopter in Washington claimed 67 lives—the worst aviation disaster in over two decades. Other 2025 incidents include a sightseeing helicopter disintegration over the Hudson River that killed six and a commuter plane crash in western Alaska that claimed ten lives.
In Philadelphia, a medical transport aircraft plummeted into a neighborhood shortly after takeoff, killing all six aboard and two people on the ground. These accidents have reignited public concern about aviation safety standards, especially for small private aircraft and regional airports.
Questions That Remain
Many questions remain unanswered. Who was piloting the aircraft at the time of the crash? Though Shapiro owned the plane and held a valid pilot’s license, authorities have not yet confirmed whether he was at the controls. Why were the airport’s systems—crucial for safe landings in low-visibility conditions—allowed to remain offline?
The NTSB’s findings over the next year will be vital not just for closure, but for driving potential policy or infrastructure changes that may prevent such tragedies in the future.
As investigations proceed, tributes continue to pour in for Shapiro and the other victims. For many in the music world, his death is more than a personal loss—it’s the end of an era marked by authenticity, innovation, and deep human connection.
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