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NTSB: San Diego Crash Aircraft Struck Power Lines

Investigation finds the ADS-B readout shows the Cessna Citation may have been too low on the published approach.

Friday, May 23, 2025 at 10:26 AM ET

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A Cessna 550 aircraft [Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

A deadly Cessna Citation S550 crash in San Diego killed all six occupants and caused extensive damage to over 15 homes and multiple cars in a densely packed neighborhood.
Authorities are investigating whether the lack of a current altimeter setting at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (KMYF) contributed to the accident, as the airport's automated weather system (ASOS) was out of service and the control tower closed.
The pilot was attempting an RNAV GPS approach in heavy fog and low visibility conditions, and ADS-B data shows the aircraft descended below the published glideslope before colliding with high-voltage power lines.

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Authorities investigating the deadly crash of a Cessna Citation S550 in San Diego on Thursday are looking at the possibility that a lack of current weather, specifically an altimeter setting at the destination airport, may have contributed to the accident.

There was heavy fog and low visibility in the area at the time of the crash. The pilot was attempting to fly the RNAV GPS approach to Runway 28R at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (KMYF).

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.