Low Altitude and poor weather cited in crash that killed former The Devil Wears Prada drummer

New details have emerged in the investigation of the deadly May 22 plane crash that killed former The Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams and Sound Talent Group co-founder Dave Shapiro. A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board points to low altitude and poor weather as key factors in the tragedy.

The report states that the Cessna 550 was flying too low for more than a mile before clipping power lines just 95 feet above the ground. The jet was attempting to land at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego when it crashed, sparking multiple house fires and scattering jet fuel across the Tierrasanta neighborhood. The airport’s approach lighting system hadn’t worked since March 2022, but it’s unclear whether the pilot was aware of this.

Shapiro, who owned the plane, is believed to have been flying it at the time. All six people on board were killed. A cockpit voice recorder has been recovered and sent for analysis.

Williams had documented his final hours on social media, posting a video from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and joking about being the co-pilot. The 39-year-old drummer, who had lived in San Diego, left The Devil Wears Prada in 2016 and later worked as a software engineer. He was also a survivor of the 2019 Dayton, Ohio mass shooting.

Shapiro was a prominent figure in the music industry, having co-founded Sound Talent Group and previously worked at The Agency Group and United Talent Agency. His roster included over 400 artists, such as Sum 41, Lamb of God, Opeth, Pierce The Veil, and Killswitch Engage. He also owned Velocity Aviation and was a licensed flight instructor.