6 Lives Lost: Inside The Tragic May 2025 San Diego Plane Crash That Rocked Murphy Canyon

The tranquil pre-dawn hours of May 22, 2025, were shattered by a catastrophic aviation accident in the heart of San Diego, California. This devastating event saw a small business jet crash into the residential neighborhood of Murphy Canyon, claiming the lives of all six people on board and reigniting serious safety debates surrounding one of the state’s busiest general aviation hubs. As of December 2025, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation continues to piece together the final moments of the flight, with preliminary findings pointing toward a deadly combination of challenging weather, technical issues, and a critical impact with infrastructure. The recent tragedy serves as a grim reminder of San Diego's complex aviation history and the inherent risks associated with airports nestled near densely populated areas. The incident has drawn intense scrutiny to the operational procedures at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MYF) and the critical role of ground-based navigation aids, particularly during low-visibility conditions. The community is seeking answers as the NTSB works to finalize its probable cause report, providing closure and hopefully, preventative measures for the future.

Chronology of the Murphy Canyon Cessna Citation Tragedy

The May 2025 crash was a high-profile, fatal event that quickly drew national attention, not only for the loss of life but also for the destructive impact on a residential area.

• Date and Time: May 22, 2025, approximately 3:47 AM PDT.
• Location: Murphy Canyon neighborhood, San Diego, California. The crash site was a military housing community, close to the approach path of Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MYF).
• Aircraft: Cessna S550 Citation S/II, a twin-engine business jet.
• Tail Number: N666DS.
• Owner/Operator: Daviator LLC.
• Fatalities: Six people—all occupants of the aircraft—were killed.
• Route: The flight was on approach to Runway 28R at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.
• Ground Impact: The jet crashed into a residential street, destroying one home and causing fire damage to at least ten others in the surrounding area.
• Victims: The six victims were quickly identified by the Coroner’s office, including three employees of a music talent agency, highlighting the professional nature of the flight.

The immediate aftermath was chaotic, with first responders battling a massive post-impact fire and searching the debris field. The wreckage was scattered across a wide area, making the initial investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB a painstaking process.

NTSB Preliminary Findings: Power Lines and Missing Data

The National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report on the Murphy Canyon crash provided critical, though not final, insights into the conditions leading up to the disaster. The findings suggest a confluence of factors during the final approach to the airport.

The Critical Power Line Impact

A key detail confirmed by investigators was that the Cessna Citation S/II clipped a power line shortly before impacting the ground. This strike caused an immediate power outage in the area, which was noted in the preliminary report. The impact suggests the aircraft was flying dangerously low, well below the established glide path for a safe instrument approach to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.

Weather and Equipment Challenges

The crash occurred in the pre-dawn darkness, with weather conditions described as foggy or low-visibility, a common challenge in coastal California. Compounding this was an issue with crucial airport equipment. The NTSB noted that the Automated Surface Observing Station (ASOS), which provides pilots with vital real-time weather and atmospheric data, was reportedly out of service at the time of the crash. For pilots relying on instrument flight rules (IFR) in low-visibility conditions, the absence of this data is a significant operational hurdle. Furthermore, reports indicated that runway lights, which would have aided the pilots in guiding the jet, were also not fully operational or were part of the power outage issue.

The Focus on Pilot Decision-Making

While the NTSB's final report is pending, the preliminary findings strongly indicate that the investigation will focus heavily on the crew's decision-making. Specifically, investigators are examining why the flight crew descended to an altitude where they were vulnerable to striking ground obstacles like power lines. This aspect of the investigation aligns with the common causes of other general aviation accidents, where a crew may choose to descend below the decision altitude without having the required visual contact with the runway.

San Diego Aviation Safety: A History of Scrutiny

The Murphy Canyon crash has once again brought the topic of aviation safety in San Diego to the forefront. The city, home to several busy airports, has a history of high-profile, tragic air disasters.

Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport Safety Concerns

Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MYF) is California’s busiest general aviation airport, handling a high volume of small jet and propeller traffic. The density of operations, coupled with its proximity to residential neighborhoods like Murphy Canyon, naturally raises safety concerns. Before the May 2025 crash, the airport had already been flagged for a high number of runway incursions—incidents where an unauthorized aircraft, vehicle, or person is on a runway. The fatal crash prompted an immediate re-evaluation of the airport's operations and safety protocols, including a potential push for new airport safety systems.

The Shadow of PSA Flight 182

No discussion of San Diego plane crashes is complete without mentioning the 1978 collision of Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) Flight 182 and a private Cessna over the North Park neighborhood. That disaster, which killed 144 people, remains the worst aircraft accident in California history. While the circumstances of the 2025 Murphy Canyon crash were vastly different—a single jet on final approach versus a mid-air collision—both events share the tragic commonality of an aircraft crashing into a densely populated San Diego community, underscoring the constant need for vigilance in air traffic management and pilot training. The historical context reinforces why every NTSB finding in the Murphy Canyon case is scrutinized by the public and aviation experts alike.

Other Recent San Diego Incidents

The May 22nd tragedy was closely followed by another notable incident on June 8, 2025, when a Cessna 414 twin-engine airplane crashed off the coast of San Diego. While less information is publicly available, the proximity in time of these two events—both involving general aviation aircraft—highlights a concerning trend for Southern California air safety. The ongoing NTSB investigations into both the Citation S/II and the Cessna 414 accidents will be crucial in determining if there are systemic issues related to maintenance, air traffic control, or operational procedures in the region. The final NTSB report on the Murphy Canyon crash is highly anticipated and will likely address the interplay between the power line strike, the out-of-service ASOS, and the crew’s final approach decisions. The findings will shape future safety regulations for Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport and other busy general aviation facilities across the United States.