A report has found the plane that killed Dave Shapiro and ex-The Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams clipped power lines while flying too low in poor weather.
A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has confirmed that the tragic May 22 plane crash in San Diego, which killed Sound Talent Group co-founder Dave Shapiro and ex-The Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams, was caused in part by being too low on its descent path.
The report, released on June 18, details how the Cessna 550 aircraft flew too low for more than a mile on its descent toward Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. It ultimately clipped power lines 95 feet above the ground, leading to a fiery crash that damaged homes and spread jet fuel through the Tierrasanta neighbourhood.
The crash killed all six people on board. According to the report, the airport’s approach lighting system had been non-functional since March 2022. It’s not yet clear whether the pilot was aware of this. The NTSB also noted poor weather conditions at the time of the crash as a contributing factor.
A cockpit voice recorder was recovered and has been sent to the NTSB for analysis. Shapiro, a licensed pilot and the registered owner of the Cessna, is believed to have been flying the aircraft.
Shapiro was a major force behind the careers of countless artists through his work as an agent, label head, and advocate for independent touring. Before co-founding Sound Talent Group, he worked at The Agency Group and United Talent Agency. His company’s roster included Parkway Drive, Ice Nine Kills, I Prevail, Opeth, and Killswitch Engage, among many others.
An official from Sound Talent Group told Billboard on the day of the crash: “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.”
Williams, 39, had lived in San Diego and left The Devil Wears Prada in 2016. He had transitioned into software engineering. He posted to Instagram from the plane at Teterboro Airport hours before the incident occurred.
The Devil Wears Prada paid tribute after the crash, writing: “No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.”
Tributes from the music industry flowed in for both Shapiro and Williams in the wake of the crash, including from members of Pierce The Veil, Parkway Drive, and The Amity Affliction. Motionless in White drummer Vinny Mauro took to X to urge people to “hug your friends, cherish your time and let them know you love them because you never know when the last chance will be. So cliche but I’m sick to my stomach. I’ll see you again someday my friend.”
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