Tierrasanta residents file tort claims for injuries and trauma they suffered after a plane crashed into their home in May 2025.

SAN DIEGO — Nearly two dozen residents whose Tierrasanta neighborhood was decimated in a May 22, 2025, plane crash, which killed all six passengers on board and destroyed homes, are taking legal action against the city of San Diego for injuries they suffered and trauma they witnessed, according to public documents obtained by CBS 8.

In addition to the 22 residents who filed legal claims, the pilot’s wife, one of his employees who died in the crash and the family of another passenger are also seeking to hold the city liable, alleging the deadly crash was caused in part by inoperable runway lights at Montgomery Field Airport and an inadequate weather alert system for pilots.

In the early morning hours of May 22, 2025, pilot David Shapiro’s Cessna 550 Citation, returning to San Diego from New Jersey in heavy fog, crashed on its descent into Montgomery Field Airport.

Pilot Shapiro crashed the plane onto the 10000 block of Sample Street. Shapiro and all five passengers, including two of his employees, a popular musician, a photographer, and a well-known martial artist from Pacific Beach, all died in the crash. 

Jet fuel from the plane ignited over 20 cars and parts of neighboring homes.

As first reported by CBS 8, three separate residents have since filed separate tort claims. They include three residents who lived inside a home on Sample Street on the edge of Tierrasanta and Murphy Canyon, who say they were awoken at around 3:45 a.m. to the Cessna private plane crashing into their home. In addition, the pilot’s wife and the passenger’s surviving daughter, Celina Kenyon, have since filed lawsuits against the city. 

In earlier legal claims, residents Jessica Schrader, Phoenix Dye, and Sara Gutshow said they were awakened by the sounds and immediately fled the home. In their claims, claimants say they were forced to step over dead bodies and flaming wreckage as they evacuated. One of the three women fell while doing so and injured her knee. All the while, the three were forced to breathe in noxious fumes from the burning jet fuel.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators did find in their preliminary report that the runway lights at the urban Montgomery Field Airport had been non-operational since 2022. However, investigators did not indicate that the lack of lights contributed to pilot David Shapiro’s low approach.

In addition to the downed lights, pilot Shapiro was looking to land in dense fog. 

Investigators also found that the Federal Aviation Administration had posted notices to inform pilots of the broken runway lights and that repairs were on hold pending an environmental study.

In addition to the inoperable runway lights, a power surge knocked out Montgomery Field’s weather system. Investigators say Mr. Shapiro was aware of the dense fog.

The city of San Diego declined to comment due to pending litigation.