It was just past 4 AM on May 22, 2025, in the quiet San Diego neighborhood of Murphy Canyon—a military housing area where families slept, unaware of the disaster about to unfold, with David Shapiro at the center of it all.
A private jet, screaming through the foggy darkness, clipped a power line before slamming into a row of homes. The explosion lit up the sky, sending flames and jet fuel spewing across the street. By sunrise, the wreckage would reveal a heartbreaking story: the death of a music industry titan, a rockstar drummer, and an aviation mystery that left investigators scrambling for answers.
This is the full, unfiltered account of the David Shapiro plane crash—a tragedy that left deep scars on San Diego, the music world, and the families of those lost.
The Flight: A Cross-Country Journey Ending in Disaster
Another plane crash. This time in San Diego, setting multiple homes ablaze. pic.twitter.com/BuIWDbTneo
— Hoodlum 🇺🇸 (@NotHoodlum) May 22, 2025
The ill-fated plane was a Cessna 550 Citation II, a sleek, twin-engine jet registered under the tail number N666DS. Owned by Daviator LLC, an Alaska-based company solely managed by Shapiro himself, the jet had taken off from Teterboro, New Jersey, a popular hub for private flights. After a fuel stop in Wichita, Kansas, it continued toward its final destination: Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego.
But something went terribly wrong in those final moments.
Witnesses reported hearing the jet’s engines sputtering before it clipped a power line and plowed into at least 10 homes. The impact was catastrophic—fires erupted instantly, fueled by jet fuel, forcing nearly 100 residents to evacuate in the middle of the night. Miraculously, no one on the ground was killed, though five people were treated for smoke inhalation.
The real tragedy, however, was inside the plane.
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The Victims: A Music Mogul, a Drummer, and Unanswered Questions
David Shapiro – The Man Behind the Flight
David Shapiro, a 42-year-old titan of the music industry, perished in a San Diego plane crash this morning. The mogul, whose roster boasted heavyweights like Sum 41, Story of the Year, and Parkway Drive, leaves a void as loud as a dropped mic on an empty stage. pic.twitter.com/7Zns7g74UG
— Harvey Lynde (@Hermit_62) May 22, 2025
At 42 years old, Shapiro wasn’t just a pilot—he was a major player in the music industry. As the co-founder of Sound Talent Group, he represented some of the biggest names in rock and metal, including Sum 41, Pierce the Veil, and Lamb of God. He also ran Velocity Records, a label known for its punk and hardcore roster.
But flying was his other passion. A certified flight instructor since 2010, David Shapiro split his time between El Cajon, California, and Homer, Alaska, where he kept his plane. Friends described him as a daring but meticulous pilot—which makes the crash all the more puzzling.
Daniel Williams – The Drummer Who Loved the Sky
Daniel Williams, the original drummer of metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, has been confirmed dead following a fatal plane crash in San Diego on the morning of May 22. He was aboard a private Cessna 550 jet that went down in a residential military housing area near… pic.twitter.com/MnpQgyt6oR
— Rock Feed 🎸 (@RockFeedNet) May 22, 2025
Among the passengers was Daniel Williams, former drummer of The Devil Wears Prada. Just hours before the crash, Williams had posted an Instagram story from the cockpit with the caption:
“I’m the (co)pilot now.”
The eerie post quickly went viral after the crash, with fans and fellow musicians mourning the loss of a talented artist. His bandmates later wrote:
“We owe you everything.”
The Unnamed Passengers
Two other victims—employees of Sound Talent Group—were also on board, though their identities haven’t been publicly released. The exact number of fatalities remains unclear, but the Cessna 550 could carry up to 10 people, leaving open the possibility of more victims yet to be confirmed.
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The Investigation: What Went Wrong?
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) immediately launched an investigation, combing through wreckage, flight data, and witness accounts. Key factors being examined:
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Weather Conditions – The crash happened in heavy fog, reducing visibility.
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Airport Status – The control tower at Montgomery-Gibbs was closed at the time, meaning Shapiro was relying on instrument approaches.
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Mechanical Failure? – Some witnesses reported hearing engine trouble before impact.
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Human Error? – Was David Shapiro disoriented? Was Williams actually interfering with controls? (His Instagram post raised eyebrows.)
As of now, no official cause has been determined, but the NTSB’s preliminary report is expected within weeks.
The Aftermath: A Community and an Industry in Mourning
The crash didn’t just devastate families—it sent shockwaves through the music industry. Bands and artists who worked with Shapiro flooded social media with tributes:
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Sum 41 called him “a visionary who believed in us when no one else did.”
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Pierce the Veil shared a heartfelt post: “We lost a brother today.”
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The Devil Wears Prada announced a charity concert in Williams’ honor.
Meanwhile, in San Diego, residents of Murphy Canyon returned to find their homes charred, flooded, or completely destroyed. A GoFundMe was set up to help displaced families, while hazmat teams worked to clean up spilled jet fuel.
The Lingering Mystery
Even with all the facts laid out, big questions remain:
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Why was the plane flying so low before hitting the power line?
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Was there a last-minute emergency that forced David Shapiro off course?
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Could this have been avoided with better weather or an open control tower?
Until the NTSB releases its findings, the full story may never be known. But one thing is certain: the music world lost a legend, a neighborhood was forever changed, and the night of May 22, 2025, will be remembered as a tragedy that should never have happened.
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Final Thoughts
If there’s one lesson here, it’s this: even the most experienced pilots aren’t invincible. Whether it was weather, mechanical failure, or human error, this crash serves as a grim reminder of how quickly things can go wrong in the sky.
For now, all we can do is wait for answers—and remember the lives lost too soon.
Rest in peace, David, Daniel, and the others on board. Your legacies won’t be forgotten.
