This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N666DSDaviator LLC
- History of Flight:
On May 22, 2025, at about 0336 local time, a Cessna S550 Citation S/II jet, registered to Daviator LLC out of Homer, Alaska, N666DS, was destroyed when it collided with powerlines and residential terrain while on an instrument approach to the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MYF/KMYF), San Diego, California. Two fatalities have been confirmed at this point, but it is unknown if there are any additional ones. There were no ground fatalities. Twenty homes and multiple vehicles were either damaged or destroyed by the impact and post crash fire.
According to preliminary flight-track history, on May 21, 2025, at about 2315 local time, the airplane departed Teterboro Airport (TEB/KTEB), Teterboro, New Jersey, on a flight to San Diego. At 0149 LT, about 3 hours and 30 minutes after departure from KTEB, the airplane stopped at Colonel James Jabara Airport (KAAO), Wichita, Kansas, for fuel. At 0236 local time, the airplane departed KAAO with a presumed destination of KMYF (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Flight Path
According to preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast data, the airplane departed runway 18 at KAAO and entered a climbing right turn to an inflight cruising altitude of 40,000 ft. At about 0314:00 LT, the airplane entered a cruise descent from that altitude towards San Diego.
According to ATC communications, the pilot contacted SoCal approach and stated "Socal Citation 666DS descending through 17,000 for 12,000", the approach controller responded, "Citation 666DS, SoCal Approach. The Montgomery ASOS is out of service. Which approach would you like?" The pilot responded, "Yeah, 6DS, we noticed that. We'll take the RNAV 28 please." The approach controller stated, "Citation 666DS, cleared direct NESTY, Descend at pilots discretion, maintain 9,000." The pilot responded "OK direct NESTY, descending for 9,000."
A few seconds later, the pilot asked the approach controller "6DS, I just wanted to know if you had any idea on the weather. I've got the Gillespie weather but I am sure you know, sometimes it can be dramatically different between Gillespie and Montgomery." The approach controller responded "6DS, Let me see what I can find out for you." The pilot then stated "Okay, thanks. Yeah, current at Gillespie is pretty much down to minimums so I just want to see what I'm in for here." The controller then said "Okay, no problem."
Later, the approach controller contacted the pilot "Citation 666DS, I've got the Miramar Automated Weather for 0955Z with wind calm, visibility 1/2, and indefinite ceiling 200." The pilot responded "6DS, alright, that doesn't sound great, but we'll give it a go." The controller responded "6DS, roger. Descend and maintain 5,500." The pilot replied "Alright, descending 5,500, 6DS."
The pilot then contacted the approach controller and said "6DS, just in case we have to go missed, what does Brown look? Is it looking pretty similar." The controller responded "Let me take a look." A few seconds later, the controller went back to the pilot "6DS. affirmative. A little bit better but not much. They're showing... standby..." "Okay they're showing 1031Z weather wind calm visibility 2 1/2, mist, ceiling 300 broken - correction - 300' overcast." The pilot responded "Okay, 6DS, little bit better, but higher minimums, so probably not a good option either. So I'll come back to you with an alternate just in case".
Later, the controller stated "Citation 666DS, Socal, are you gonna make the descent okay from there or do you want me to turn you out to the south? The pilot responded "6DS, no, I think we will be alright." The controller replies "Citation 666DS, roger, 5 miles from NESTY, cross at or above 3800', cleared RNAV runway 28R approach." The pilot then stated "Alright, At or above 3800', cleared RNAV 28R approach, Montgomery."
The approach controller stated, "Citation 666DS, report your IFR cancellation after landing via the phone. Do you have the number?" The pilot answers "Okay, yeah, I've got the number." The controller stated "6DS, roger, and frequency change approved." The pilot then stated "6DS, thanks, we'll hopefully not see ya... but we might have to." The controller says "roger."
During the final approach, the pilot stated the following on the CTAF (Common traffic advisory frequency) "Montgomery traffic, Citation 666DS, 3 miles final 28." Additionally, 7 mic clicks could be heard. There were no additional communications received from the pilot.
The ADS-B data indicated that at about 0343:52 the airplane was about 10 miles from the runway threshold at 3500 ft msl and established at point NESTY (Figure 2). At 0344:16, the airplane was about 7 miles from the runway threshold at 2500 ft and established at point PENNY with a reported ground speed of 180 knots. At 0346:10, the airplane was about 3 miles from the runway threshold at 1200 ft (about 180 ft below point PALOS). the final ADS-B datapoint was located about 1.70 miles from the runway 28R threshold. The airplane was at 500 ft, 124 knots groundspeed, and descending -2000 fpm. (Figure 3)
Figure 2: airplane at point NESTY (Credit: FlySto)
Figure 3: last ADS-B return (Credit: FlySto)
Figure 4: Speed and Altitude (not corrected, credit: FlySto)
The airplane struck a set of marked high tension powerlines, descended, then struck a light pole before impacting a residential structure about 2 miles from runway 28R. A post crash fire ensued.
- Pilot Info:
The pilot, aged 42, held an airline pilot certificate, with a rating for airplane multiengine land. He also held commercial privileges for airplane single engine land, airplane single engine sea, rotorcraft/helicopter, instrument helicopter. He held two type ratings, one for the CE-500 jet, and one for the CE-525S jet (which he was subject to pilot in command limitations). He also held a flight instructor and ground instructor certificates. His third class FAA medical was issued on 11/2024, with the following note:
Must use corrective lens(es) to meet vision standards at all required distances.Not valid for any class after 11/30/2025.
- Aircraft Info:
The accident airplane, MSN S550-0056, was manufactured in 1985. It was powered by two P&W Canada JT15D-4 engines.
The passenger shared a screenshot from the right hand seat, which suggests the airplane was equipped with a Garmin 750 (Figure 5).
Figure 5: Screenshot shared by passenger, note LPV mins (Source: Instagram)
The airplane was originally certificated for two pilots. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allowed an exemption (9917) for single- pilot operations if that pilot accomplished training in accordance with an FAA- approved training program.
According to the FAA "14 CFR § 97.3 - Symbols and terms used in procedures."
As used in the standard instrument procedures prescribed in this part—Aircraft approach category means a grouping of aircraft based on a speed of VREF, if specified, or if VREF is not specified, 1.3 Vso at the maximum certificated landing weight. VREF, Vso, and the maximum certificated landing weight are those values as established for the aircraft by the certification authority of the country of registry. The categories are as follows—(1) Category A: Speed less than 91 knots.(2) Category B: Speed 91 knots or more but less than 121 knots.(3) Category C: Speed 121 knots or more but less than 141 knots.(4) Category D: Speed 141 knots or more but less than 166 knots.(5) Category E: Speed 166 knots or more.
Based on the Cessna S550 Citation S/II specs, it falls under under Category C.
- Airport Info:
The Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport is a public airport located six miles north of downtown San Diego, California. The airport covers an area of 456 acres and features three runways, one public helipad, and two private helipads. The runways are 28R/10L and 28L/10R (parallel) and 5/23 (Figure 6).
Runway 28R is equipped with an ILS approach, with an inbound course of 281 degrees magnetic heading. The charted Category A and B aircraft landing minimums are a descent altitude of 673 feet msl (250 feet agl), and a visibility of 3/4 mile. The touchdown zone elevation is 427 feet msl. Category C and D are not allowed to fly this approach. (Figure 7)
Figure 6 : KMYF (Source: Google Earth)
Figure 7: RNAV (GPS) Runway 28R Approach Plate
- Wreckage and Impact Info:
The first identified point of impact was damage noted to a high tension powerline and aircraft parts that were located under it. These powerlines are marked as an obstruction on the approach plate, standing at 554 ft.
After the powerline strike, the airplane descended into a residential street, struck a light pole with one of the wings , then impacted a residential structure. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire (figure 8).
Figure 8: Main Wreckage (courtesy: AP Photo/William Liang)
- Weather:
At the time of the accident, the KMYF ASOS was not working, observations at other nearby airports;
KNKX (8 km NNWW of accident location)
METAR KNKX 220955Z 00000KT 1/2SM VV002 15/14 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP120 T01500144
METAR KNKX 221055Z 00000KT 1/2SM VV002 14/14 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP117 T01440144
KSEE (13 km ENE of accident location)
METAR KSEE 221035Z AUTO 00000KT 1/2SM FG OVC002 14/14 A2989 RMK AO2
METAR KSEE 221055Z AUTO 00000KT 1/2SM BR OVC002 14/14 A2989 RMK AO2
KSAN (11 km SW of accident location)
METAR KSAN 221016Z 13004KT 9SM OVC010 17/14 A2991 RMK AO2 T01720144
METAR KSAN 221051Z 17003KT 9SM OVC010 17/14 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP127 T01670144
The National Weather Service released the following area forecast discussion around the time of the accident:
358 FXUS66 KSGX 220943 AFDSGX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Diego CA 243 AM PDT Thu May 22 2025 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure aloft will weaken with a low pressure system moving inland through California on Friday night. High temperatures will cool from around 10 degrees above average today to within a few degrees of average on Saturday. Sunday will be around 5 degrees warmer, then gradual cooling to around average for next Wednesday. There will periods of stronger and gusty southwest to west winds for the mountains and deserts during the afternoon and evening for today and Thursday with the stronger gusts today to 30 to 40 mph and on Thursday to 35 to 45 mph. The marine layer will deepen into Saturday with night and morning coastal low clouds spreading farther inland into the valleys each morning through Saturday. Coastal low clouds won`t extend as far into the valleys on Sunday. For the early and middle part of next week, the marine layer will be deepen with night and morning coastal low clouds extending inland across much of the inland valleys with slower or more limited afternoon clearing near the coast.&& .AVIATION... 220900Z...Coast...Patchy low clouds have pushed inland up to 10 miles so far with bases ranging from 400ft to 900ft MSL. VIS for coastal mesas and valleys 0-2SM while elsewhere VIS is generally above 6SM. Brief lowering of bases down to 200-400ft MSL with worsening VIS possible for coastal sites, especially after 12z. Clearing to the beaches will occur by 16-17z, but clouds may linger offshore through the afternoon. Marine layer redevelops again tonight, pushing ashore as early as 02-03z with slightly higher bases likely above 700ft MSL and better VIS. Clearing Friday morning expected at a similar time as this morning, around 17-18z. Elsewhere...Clear with unrestricted vis through tonight.
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