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NTSB: San Diego Jet Descended Below Safe Altitude and Struck Power Lines

Preliminary findings show the aircraft hit lines at about 60 feet after descending too low in dense fog under conditions of inoperable runway lighting alongside a nonfunctional weather reporting system.

Six people were killed when a Cessna jet crashed into a Murphy Canyon neighborhood on May 22. The National Traffic Safety Board released a preliminary investigation report on Wednesday. (ONSCENE.TV)
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Overview

  • The report finds the jet flew below its prescribed glide path for over a mile before its tail clipped 90- to 95-foot power lines at roughly 60 feet above ground.
  • Dense fog shrouded the pre-dawn approach as the airport’s automatic weather reporting system was down and runway alignment lights had been out of service since March 2022.
  • Pilot-owner Dave Shapiro debated diverting due to poor visibility and attempted to activate runway lights by keying his microphone seven times during the descent.
  • All six people on board—including Shapiro and music agent Daniel Williams—were killed; eight residents suffered minor injuries and a home plus 20 vehicles were damaged.
  • The NTSB has not yet determined a probable cause and expects to publish its final report within two years of the May 22 crash.