News Summary
A small aircraft crash in San Diego last week severely damaged the McCarty family’s home, displacing them as they navigate the aftermath. The Cessna Citation jet tragically killed all six onboard and caused significant destruction, pushing the family’s truck into their living room and leading to a fire. Although currently in temporary military housing, the McCarty family faces emotional and financial hardships as they rebuild their lives, with community support through a GoFundMe initiative amid ongoing investigations into the crash.
San Diego – A small aircraft crashed in a San Diego neighborhood last week, inflicting significant damage to the McCarty family’s home and displacing them from their residence. The crash occurred on Sample St. and Salmon St. when a Cessna Citation private jet fell onto the street while trying to land at Montgomery Gibbs Executive Airport, tragically killing all six individuals on board.
The McCarty family’s struggles began when the plane collided with their truck, which was parked outside, subsequently pushing it into their living room. This unfortunate event led to a fire that consumed their home and all its contents, rendering it uninhabitable. Currently, they are residing in temporary military housing as they navigate the difficult task of rebuilding their lives.
Since the incident, Srujana McCarty has experienced heightened anxiety and involuntary reactions to planes flying overhead, indicating the ongoing trauma faced by the family. They are now focused on survival and have adapted their escape routes in case of any future emergencies. Safety concerns have prevented them from returning to their damaged home, which is likely filled with irreparable belongings. Among the emotional losses they endured are cherished items such as their wedding bouquet, a wedding album, and a stick that held special significance for Benjamin, used during his climb of Mount Fuji.
The McCarty family has expressed gratitude for the support they have received from their military community, neighbors, and local organizations during this crisis. Despite facing financial instability and living paycheck to paycheck, they did not have a plan in place for emergencies of this nature. To assist them in their recovery efforts, a GoFundMe page has been created, allowing the community to help them regain some semblance of normalcy.
The tragic crash involving the Cessna Citation is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Preliminary findings indicate that the pilot faced challenging fog conditions during the landing attempt and did not declare an emergency despite being warned about the weather hazards. The investigation will also assess the pilot’s qualifications, the aircraft’s maintenance status, and the overall environmental conditions at the time of the incident.
Describing the crash scene, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl characterized it as “pretty horrific.” The event led to the evacuation of over 100 residents from the area surrounding the crash site. Liberty Military Housing is currently working with the affected families to transition them back to their homes while assessing the damage and ensuring safety before reoccupation.
Around 20 families are seeking alternative housing options despite their homes being classified as safe. In an additional response to the tragedy, the San Diego Humane Society has rescued 69 pets affected by the crash and is actively working to reunite them with their owners. The San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed the identities of three of the six victims, which includes a notable music executive, Dave Shapiro.
As investigations continue and recovery efforts ramp up, the McCarty family remains committed to moving forward and rebuilding their lives amid the overwhelming devastation. With community support and resilience, they hope to overcome the heartache of their lost belongings and memories.
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Additional Resources
- NBC San Diego: 1 Week After Murphy Canyon Jet Crash
- Wikipedia: Plane crash
- NBC Los Angeles: San Diego Plane Crash Victim’s Parents
- Google Search: San Diego plane crash
- CBS 8: Military Family Recovery After Devastating Plane Crash
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Aviation Safety
- Fox 5 San Diego: Military Families Return Home After Plane Crash
- Google News: Murphy Canyon crash
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
