3 Dead In San Diego Plane Crash That Killed Music Talent Agency Founder, Employees

Early Thursday morning, a private jet crashed in U.S. Navy-owned housing in San Diego, killing three members of the music agency Sound Talent Group, including its founder.

Sound Talent Group has represented Hanson, Vanessa Carlton, Sum 41, Pierce the Veil, I Prevail, Set it Off, Story of the Year, Silverstein, Parkway Drive, and Eve 6. “Since launching in 2018, STG has grown to more than three dozen employees with offices in New York City, Nashville, and San Diego,” the company’s website states.

Sound Talent Group co-founder Dave Shapiro, the owner of the plane, was listed as one of the fatalities; the crash caused a fire to race down the street. “San Diego police officer Anthony Carrasco said five people from a single family were taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation after evacuating to a nearby school,” AP reported. “At least 100 residents were evacuated.”

City Councilmember Raul Campillo said local residents spoke of “military families helping military families out of their homes, jumping out of windows and avoiding fire.”

“I can’t quite put words to describe what the scene looks like, but with the jet fuel going down the street, and everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl stated.

“Audio recorded by www.liveATC.net includes a brief transmission from the pilot calling out that he was on final approach to the Montgomery-Gibbs airport and was about 3 miles out at 3:45 a.m.,” AP noted, adding that reports said it was very foggy at the time of the crash.

Aviation attorney Barry Newman pointed out that early in the morning and in foggy weather, the plane was probably using an instrument flight rules plan, but once the aircraft descends to 673 feet above ground, the pilot also had to rely on his own visual perception. “If a pilot descends to that level and he can’t see the runway, he has to call for a missed approach or divert to another airport,” he said.