SAN DIEGO, Calif. — A private jet crash in the early hours of Thursday morning left three people dead, including Dave Shapiro, founder of the prominent music agency Sound Talent Group. The aircraft went down in a U.S. Navy-owned residential area near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, igniting a fiery scene that forced over 100 residents to evacuate.
Authorities confirmed the jet, owned by Shapiro, crashed shortly before 4 a.m., unleashing a blaze that raced down the residential street and sent plumes of smoke into the sky. The crash took place amid heavy fog conditions, complicating visibility for pilots and first responders alike.
Shapiro, a well-known figure in the music industry, co-founded Sound Talent Group in 2018. The agency represents a high-profile roster of rock and alternative acts, including Sum 41, I Prevail, Pierce the Veil, Silverstein, Story of the Year, and Vanessa Carlton. Headquartered in San Diego, the company also operates offices in New York City and Nashville.
“The loss is devastating to our entire family at Sound Talent Group,” the company said in a statement. “Dave was not just our founder—he was a visionary, a mentor, and a friend.”
According to authorities, the jet was making its final approach to Montgomery-Gibbs when it went down. Audio captured by LiveATC.net revealed the pilot radioed he was three miles out at 3:45 a.m. Conditions at the time were reportedly very foggy, potentially complicating the descent.
Aviation attorney Barry Newman, commenting on the crash, noted that in low-visibility scenarios like this, pilots typically operate under instrument flight rules (IFR). “But once a plane descends to around 673 feet above ground, the pilot must have visual confirmation of the runway,” Newman explained. “If that doesn’t happen, the pilot is expected to initiate a missed approach or divert.”
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl described the aftermath as harrowing. “With jet fuel running down the street and everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see,” Wahl told reporters. “You could see the panic in people’s eyes.”
Five members of a nearby family were hospitalized for smoke inhalation after fleeing their home and seeking refuge at a local school, police said. In total, at least 100 residents were forced to evacuate the area.
City Councilmember Raul Campillo praised the resilience and unity of the affected community, many of whom are military families. “What we saw was military families helping military families—pulling each other out of windows and away from fire,” he said. “It was an act of heroism under the most frightening circumstances.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are currently investigating the crash to determine its cause.
