SAN DIEGO (AP) – The runway lights were operational, but the weather alert system malfunctioned. At San Diego Airport, pilots from across the nation opted to land despite the heavy fog surrounding the area. Tragically, this led to a crash in the neighborhood, resulting in the deaths of all six individuals on board.
Investigator Dan Baker from the National Traffic Safety Commission indicated that authorities will spend the upcoming year examining the reasons behind the Cessna 550 Citation crash that occurred just before 4 a.m. on Thursday. The jet was carrying music executives along with five others. Fortunately, none of the neighboring US Navy housing residents suffered fatal injuries, although eight individuals were treated for smoke inhalation and other non-life-threatening conditions.
The pilot recognized that the weather conditions at the small airport were suboptimal and contemplated alternative routes while discussing visibility with local air traffic controllers at the Federal Aviation Control Tower. liveatc.net.
The FAA had issued a notification to the pilot regarding the runway lights, although it’s unclear if the pilot acknowledged it. There was no discussion about the lighting at air traffic control, but the pilot was aware that the weather warning system was malfunctioning. Ultimately, the pilot decided to proceed with his plan to land at Montgomery Gibbs Executive Airport.
“It doesn’t sound great, but we’ll give it a try,” he conveyed to the air traffic controller.
The plane went down approximately 2 miles (3.22 km) from the airport.
Baker reported that a power surge disabled the airport’s weather system, yet the pilot was cognizant of the fog conditions. The air traffic controller provided him with weather updates from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, located about four miles (6.44 km) north.
Among the deceased was music talent agent Dave Shapiro, co-founder of Sound Talent Group, along with two of his employees and a former drummer from the metal band The Devil Wears Prada. Shapiro, 42, held a pilot’s license and was listed as the aircraft’s owner.
The two employees who lost their lives were Kendall Fortner, 24, a Southern Californian agency associate, and Emma Hooke, 25.
This crash adds to an already extensive list of aviation disasters this year, as federal officials attempt to reassure travelers that flight remains the safest mode of transportation based on statistics.
Shapiro’s aircraft departed from Teterboro, New Jersey, near Manhattan, at approximately 11:15 p.m. local time on Wednesday, making a fuel stop in Wichita, Kansas, before its final destination in San Diego. He had returned to San Diego after managing the band Bale, which had performed to a packed house at Madison Square Garden.
While overnight flights are prohibited for passenger aircraft under federal crew rest regulations, these rules do not apply to civilian planes.
San Diego Fire Department assistant Dan Eddie mentioned that the morning fog was so dense that it was “impossible to see in front of you.”
Former NTSB and FAA collision investigator Jeff Gutzetti expressed that he believes the combination of thick fog and pilot fatigue likely contributed to the crash after an overnight flight.
“This incident bears all the hallmarks of a typical attempt to navigate poor weather conditions and visibility near an airport,” Gutzetti remarked. “There were alternative airports available for the crew to divert to.”
He noted that pilots should review the FAA notifications to airmen, which warn them about critical issues like runway lights being non-functional.
“It’s relatively easy for a pilot to access that information, and it should be done before any flight,” Gutzetti stated.
The pilot would have also noticed the runway lights were out as he descended. Without lighting, it would have been prudent for him to climb and redirect to another airport, Gutzetti explained.
Debris from the aircraft was discovered beneath a power line approximately half a block from the nearest residence, with additional fragments scattered along the road just behind it. Gutzetti mentioned that even if the plane had narrowly missed the power line, it still could have crashed due to its low altitude in the fog.
A terrifying awakening
The crash site displayed extensive damage to the front of a house, including shattered stone landscaping walls and incinerated vehicles parked across the street, which were propelled into the owner’s living room as the fire spread.
Ben McCarty and his wife, residents of the home struck by the plane, reported feeling the heat as they awoke to the explosion.
“All I could see was flames. The roof was still smoldering, and I could see the night sky from our living room.” He shared with local ABC affiliate KGTV.
The inferno obstructed many exits, prompting them to grab their children and dogs and escape through the back. However, burning debris blocked their path, and neighbors assisted them in climbing over a fence to safety.
“We helped the kids over the fence, and then I jumped over myself. Neighbors brought ladders to rescue the dog,” McCarty said.
At the same time, the jet fuel ignited various materials, from wood to plastic garbage containers, causing cars to burst into flames as the fire spread down the block.
While McCarty’s home was completely destroyed, about ten surrounding houses sustained damage.
McCarty mentioned that his family enjoyed living under the flight path, often watching planes fly overhead.
“My kids and I used to sit on our doorstep and look up. They were always excited to see the planes, and now the irony is that the spot where we sat is where the plane crashed,” McCarty lamented.
He expressed a desire to move. “I can’t bear the thought of living under that flight path again. It’s going to be hard to sleep at night,” McCarty declared.
It Could Have Been Worse
Gutzetti reflected on his experience, noting that fatalities on the ground during plane crashes in residential areas are often minimal unless the aircraft impacts directly, like the incident in Philadelphia in January.
At least 100 residents from the San Diego area have been evacuated, and officials have not confirmed when they may return home.
This Thursday crash follows another recent incident where a small plane crashed near Shimi Valley northwest of Los Angeles, claiming the lives of both the pilot and a dog onboard, yet thankfully, no ground injuries were reported.
In October 2021, a twin-engine plane crashed at the outskirts of San Diego, killing both pilots and a UPS delivery driver, while igniting nearby homes.
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Funk contributed to this report from Omaha, Nebraska.
Source: apnews.com