Information is coming to light about who owns the Cessna that crashed into 15 residences in San Diego’s Tierrasanta neighborhood early Thursday morning.
According to Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft is a 1985 Cessna Citation with the tail number N666DS. The plane, common in Alaska, is registered to Daviator LLC, a limited liability company based in Homer, about 200 south of Anchorage. The company’s registered agent with the Department of Commerce in Alaska is David Shapiro, who is said to have died in the crash, according to his other company, a talent agency based in California.
As of Thursday afternoon, officials had not released the identities of those on board the aircraft, nor the cause of the crash. However, the Associated Press reported that Shapiro and two others in the music agency Sound Talent Group died.
Shapiro ran an aviation business in El Cajon and owns a home near San Carlos, Calif, as well as in Homer. According to the FAA, Shapiro had been a certified flight instructor with his license based in Alaska since 2010.
His Instagram description of himself says, “Music agent:airplane/helicopter Pilot👨✈️:husband:puppy dad:retired BASE jumper:Alaska/San Diego www.VelocityAviation.net / www.VelocityRecords.com”. He appears to mainly have lived in California but was proud of his beautiful home in Homer, which has breathtaking views of Kachemak Bay.
The National Transportation Safety Board investigators are on-site conducting an investigation. It remains unclear who was piloting the aircraft at the time of the crash, how many were on board, or what its intended destination was.
Around the Homer airport we called him Tatoo Dave. He was a super nice guy. Talking with him or seeing him around town would not give you any clues that he was a millionaire.
Cessna Citation is a small business jet.
Citation, Model 550. Nice jet!
Weather was at or below minimums. Tower was closed. Alternates had bad weather. Automated weather was INOP. Early morning landing after long cross-country overnight flight. Questionable if airplane was qualified for the RNAV approach used. Way too many things stacked against them all.
Oh, and the runway lights were INOP as well. Did this pilot read the NOTAMs?
When I first started flying in small aircraft in Ak back in the 70’s, an old and weathered pilot told me, there are those who have and those who will…. crash.
RIP
All of that ink may have interfered with the instruments (IFR). Lead, copper, mercury….etc
Rest in peace, Dave. Condolences to his wife.