NTSB determines plane flew at a low altitude in fatal crash of rock musician and music exec.
Initial findings from an investigation into a tragic plane crash in May, which resulted in the deaths of six individuals including Daniel Williams of The Devil Wears Prada, shed light on the factors contributing to the collision. According to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board, issues with faulty runway lights and challenging weather conditions near San Diego, Calif., may have impacted the pilot's ability to safely land at the airport. The report highlighted that the pilot was made aware of the malfunctioning Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MYF) and that the runway lights had been out of service since March 28, 2022. The airport in question is under tower control from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., operating as an uncontrolled airport outside of these hours. The pilot, who was certified to fly the single-pilot Cessna S550 aircraft in late 2024, discussed alternate airport weather conditions with air traffic control as a precaution but did not inform them of a change in destination during the flight. Notably, the pilot appeared to attempt activating the runway lighting system on approach to MYF but ultimately flew too low during the final part of the descent, resulting in the plane striking power lines and causing significant damage upon impact. Investigations are ongoing, and efforts to repair the lighting system at the airport have been hampered by an environmental study. Notably, the crash claimed the lives of music executive Dave Shapiro, also a pilot, and drummer Daniel Williams, while injuring eight others on the ground.
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