A Terrifying Bell Before Morning
Thursday morning began like a horror movie for the people of San Diego. Around 3:45 in the night, a private business jet – Cessna 550 Citation – lost control and crashed into a military housing area. The plane first struck power lines and then crashed into a house.
There was fire all around, vehicles were burning, the smell of jet fuel was in the air, and people were running out of their homes. All this happened so suddenly that no one had time to understand.
What was this aircraft?
Cessna 550 Citation is a well-known business jet, which is used for private and corporate travel. This aircraft has a seating capacity of 8-10 people. The plane took off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey at 11:15 pm and also went to Wichita, Kansas for a fuel stop. After that its next stop was Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego – but it never reached there.
Impact of power lines and condition of crash site
Before the crash, the plane struck a high voltage power line almost 2 miles away. Then it crashed into a residential house, where the roof of the house completely collapsed and a car was trapped underneath it.
The jet fuel spread far and wide and ignited at least 10 cars and multiple houses. Firefighters and rescue teams took immediate action, but the scene was so intense that San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said,
“Jet fuel was pouring into the streets, there was fire everywhere… it was truly horrific.”
A Military Neighborhood
This area is one of the largest military housing units in San Diego. When the crash happened, there were people inside the impacted homes. But neighbors helped them evacuate immediately. San Diego Fire Assistant Chief Dan Eddy said:
“It’s a miracle they survived. And the best part was the neighborhood supported each other.”
Were weather conditions the culprit?
Visibility was only halfway during the crash, and the cloud ceiling was only 200 feet. Air traffic control recordings showed the pilot had asked about the weather – but Montgomery airport’s weather system (ASOS) was not in service. The control tower was also staff-free at night, so the pilot had to make announcements over the radio himself.
When the pilot asked about the weather at the alternate airport, conditions were not particularly good there either. He said:
“That doesn’t sound great, but we’ll give it a go.”
This was his last calm communication.
Jet fuel caused a fire
Immediately after the crash, the fuel spread fire throughout the street. A local resident recorded video of cars burning, alarms going off and smoke everywhere. He told CNN he first poured water in his yard, then helped police evacuate neighbors.
Eddy said:
“The jet fuel destroyed all the cars. More than 10 homes were impacted by the incident.”
Who were the victims?
The FAA confirmed there were six people on the plane. San Diego Police have so far confirmed at least two deaths. Sound Talent Group – a music booking agency – said its co-founder Dave Shapiro and two other colleagues died in the crash.
Dave Shapiro was also a licensed pilot, and according to FAA records the plane was registered in his name.
NITO (National Independent Talent Organization) paid tribute to his death, saying:
“Dave was a visionary in the music industry. His death is a great loss to all of us.”
Pets were also affected
The San Diego Humane Society rescued at least 12 pets, including some dogs soaked in jet fuel. The medical team cleaned the animals wearing hazmat suits. This also shows that the incident deeply impacted not only humans but also animals.
NTSB investigation in progress
Elliott Simpson of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the debris is spread out over at least a quarter-mile. Work will continue at the investigation site through Friday, and the plane will be moved to a secure location on Saturday.
The Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder are also expected to be recovered – which will help understand the real cause of the crash. A preliminary report will be available in two weeks, but a final report could take 12-18 months.
What are the experts saying?
CNN aviation analyst David Soucie said the Cessna Citation is considered a highly reliable aircraft. He said:
“It’s unlikely that the crash happened due to mechanical failure. Weather or human error are more likely.”
Mayor’s support and message of hope
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said:
“These people are part of our military community, and we will fully support them – however long it takes to get their lives back to normal.”
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