Details have emerged following a deadly plane crash in San Diego that claimed six lives, including a figure in the music industry.
Dave Shapiro, 42, co-founder of Sound Talent Group and a key figure in live music, was among six people killed when a jet crashed into the Tierrasanta neighborhood early Thursday, May 22, 2025.
Billboard noted that the plane was carrying Shapiro and two of his colleagues, whose names have not been released as family notifications continue.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Cessna 550 departed from Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport around 3:45 a.m.
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Shortly after taking off, the jet hit power lines about two miles away and crashed into homes in a San Diego military housing area just before 4 a.m., according to CNN.
“There are fragments of the aircraft under the power lines,” said Eliott Simpson, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The impact scattered debris over a quarter mile. The fuel from the jet rained down, sparking fires that destroyed vehicles and damaged multiple homes, including one where the roof collapsed onto a car.
In an early update posted by the San Diego Police Department at 1:53 a.m. on May 22, police confirmed at least two fatalities, eight injuries, and damage to around 10 buildings. Authorities urged the public to report any debris or jet fuel found in the area. Approximately 100 residents were evacuated.
UPDATE: Approx. 100 residents evacuated after aircraft crash near Sculpin St & Santo Rd. At least 2 confirmed dead, 8 injured, ~10 buildings damaged. Evacs & road closures remain. NTSB en route. Call 619-531-2000 if you find debris or jet fuel.
— San Diego Police Department (@SanDiegoPD) May 22, 2025
By 7:21 a.m., police announced the opening of an evacuation center at Hancock Elementary School and thanked residents for their donations, adding that no additional supplies were needed. Later that morning, they stated that the NTSB had taken over the investigation and would provide all future updates.
Evacuation center now at Hancock Elementary, open until 9PM.
Huge thanks to the community—your donations are appreciated. No more donations needed.
If you witnessed the crash or find debris, email eyewitness@ntsb.gov.
Red Cross: 1-800-985-5990— San Diego Police Department (@SanDiegoPD) May 22, 2025
In the aftermath, Sound Talent Group released a statement expressing their grief, “We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today’s tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time.”
Shapiro showed a deep passion for aviation alongside his music career. In a May 2020 Instagram post, he shared a photo of his FAA licenses — one as an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and the other as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI).
In his caption, Shapiro said he had been wanting to return to flight school for years to pursue his ATP rating, describing it as the next step beyond commercial certification. He mentioned that although he had an established career, he always aimed to keep learning and improving as a pilot.
He shared that he passed his check ride a few months earlier and received his certification in the mail. He also added that he completed his test in a Citation 525 series jet, which qualified him to fly CJ (CitationJet) models — a family of light business jets commonly used for corporate and private travel.
Shapiro expressed genuine pride in the achievement, calling it a “fun” milestone and celebrating his progression as a pilot. That drive extended beyond personal goals — he went on to found his own flight school called Velocity Aviation.
According to the company’s website, Shapiro was 22 years old in 2005 when he earned his first discretionary income as a young executive in the music industry. He used it to take an introductory flight — a decision that immediately hooked him on aviation. Over time, both his passion and experience grew exponentially.
As he built his career in music and launched other ventures, Shapiro continued to develop his skills as a pilot and eventually shared that passion through the training and services his company offered.
Velocity Aviation highlighted the wide range of his flying pursuits, from helicopters and twin-engine aircraft to aerobatics and BASE jumping — a reference to parachute jumps from fixed objects like Buildings, Antennas, Spans (bridges), and Earth (cliffs).
The school noted that he logged over 15 years of flight time and traveled more than a million miles. His commitment also appeared in public FAA records. One of the aircraft linked to him, a 1985 Cessna S550, is registered to DAVIATOR LLC, based in Alaska.
The FAA registration, issued in July 2024, remains valid. The jet is a multi-engine, turbo-fan aircraft used in executive transport — a fitting aircraft for someone who seamlessly merges business, travel, and flight.
The NTSB continues to investigate the crash. As officials review the evidence and assess the damage, residents and authorities remain focused on understanding what led to the tragedy.
