Plane was flying too low during descent in crash that killed rock musician and music exec, NTSB finds

A preliminary probe into a May level clang which claimed the lives of six people, including The Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams, provided much penetration into the origin of the fatal collision.

The National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary study indicated that not lone were faulty runway lights an issue, but upwind whitethorn person affected the pilot's quality to onshore safely astatine the airdrome adjacent San Diego, Calif.

"The controller informed the aviator that the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) astatine MYF (Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport) was retired of work and the aviator acknowledged that helium was alert of that," the study stated. The runway lights had not been moving since March 28, 2022.

SAN DIEGO PLANE CRASH KILLS ROCK MUSICIAN, INFLUENTIAL MUSIC EXEC

Drummer Daniel Williams of The Devil Wears Prada was 1 of six radical killed successful May level crash. (Chelsea Lauren/WireImage/AP Photo)

MYF is simply a tower-controlled airdrome betwixt the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., according to the report, and operates arsenic an uncontrolled airdrome during the remaining hours of the day.

The pilot, who was approved to alert the Cessna S550 single-pilot craft connected Dec. 15, 2024, discussed "alternate airdrome upwind conditions with the controller successful the lawsuit helium had to execute a missed approach," according to the report.

Weather conditions astatine Marine Corp Air Station Miramar (NKS), astir 4 miles northbound of the airport, were described arsenic calm wind, with ½ mile visibility and an indefinite 200-foot ceiling.

The aviator allegedly stated helium would notify Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control of his enactment for an alternate airport, but did not bash truthful during the remainder of the flight.

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"When the airplane was astir 10 mi northeast of NESTY, the controller asked the aviator if helium was going to ‘make your descent’ and asked if helium would similar vectors to the south. The aviator replied, ‘I deliberation we’ll beryllium alright,’" the study stated.

Authorities enactment the country of a location wherever a tiny level crashed into a San Diego neighborhood, mounting respective homes connected occurrence and forcing evacuations on respective blocks aboriginal Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Investigators comb done the tract wherever a tiny level crashed connected a San Diego, California, residential thoroughfare connected May 22, 2025.  (SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP)

"The controller informed the aviator that helium was 5 miles from NESTY and instructed them to transverse NESTY astatine oregon supra 3,800 ft msl, and that helium was cleared the RNAV attack to runway 28R astatine MYF, which the aviator acknowledged."

The aviator past made a presumption telephone that helium was astatine 3 miles connected the approach, followed by "the dependable of the microphone fastener being keyed 7 times, accordant with an effort to activate the pilot-controlled runway lighting."

Roughly 2.9 nautical miles from the airport, the Cessna was flying excessively debased for the runway astatine an altitude of astir 1,190 feet msl implicit PALOS. The minimum crossing altitude was listed astatine oregon supra 1,380 feet msl.

The crash, which happened earlier 4 a.m., near a monolithic debris tract and damaged a fig of homes. (SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP)

The first identified constituent of contact was astir 1.8 nm from the runway erstwhile the craft damaged powerfulness transmission lines which were 90-95 feet supra the ground, the NTSB stated.

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Portions of the level were located astir 200 feet downrange of the lines, with a debris tract reaching much than 1 mile distant connected a residential street. The airplane impacted 1 residential operation and 20 vehicles, which were damaged oregon destroyed by interaction oregon post-impact fire.

The airplane was not equipped with a formation information recorder. A cockpit dependable recorder was recovered from the wreckage, the NTSB said.

Dave Shapiro, a euphony manufacture enforcement successful the dense metallic and hard stone scene, was besides killed successful the level crash. (Stephanie Siau/Sound Talent Group)

"The repairs of the affected RAI lighting components and replacement of the airy strategy person been delayed awaiting completion of an biology study. All different runway lighting was operable astatine the clip of the accident," NTSB said successful the report.

Dave Shapiro, a music manufacture executive successful the dense metallic and hard stone scene, and drummer Daniel Williams were among those killed successful the crash. Eight radical reported insignificant injuries connected the ground.

Shapiro had a pilot’s licence and was listed arsenic the proprietor of the level that crashed, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. He was among the six radical killed successful the crash, on with 2 employees, the euphony bureau Sound Talent Group confirmed astatine the time.

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"We are devastated by the nonaccomplishment of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. Our hearts spell retired to their families and to everyone impacted by today’s tragedy," the euphony bureau helium co-founded, Sound Talent Group, wrote successful a statement.

Fox News Digital's Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.