FRESNOFORECLOSURE

A former drummer from a popular metal band has died after a private jet crashed into military housing in California during foggy weather.

The crash ignited cars parked along a suburban neighbourhood block and killed multiple people on board the plane, authorities say.

Former drummer of metalcore band, the Devil Wears Prada, Daniel Williams, has been identified as one of the victims, as well as well-known music agent Dave Shapiro.

READ MORE: Woman leaves police convoy, gets swept away

Assistant San Diego Fire Chief Dan Eddy said "there is a direct hit to multiple homes" in the Murphy Canyon neighbourhood of San Diego early on Thursday morning (Thursday night AEST).

"We have jet fuel all over the place," he said, during a news conference, describing "a gigantic debris field" in a dense, packed neighbourhood.

The plane could hold eight to 10 people but it was not yet known how many were on board, Eddy said later in the morning.

Authorities will be investigating whether the plane hit a power line, he said.

The aircraft crashed just before 4am (9pm AEST) yesterday into the US military's largest housing neighbourhood, appearing to strike at least one home that had a charred and collapsed roof and smashing through half a dozen vehicles. About 10 homes suffered damage but no one inside the homes needed transport to the hospital, authorities said.

San Diego officials haven't released details about the plane but said it was a flight coming in from the Midwest.

The flight tracking site FlightAware lists a Cessna Citation II jet that was scheduled to arrive at the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive airport in San Diego at 3.47am from the small Colonel James Jabara Airport in Wichita, Kansas. Officials at the airport said it just made a fuelling stop in Wichita. The flight originated Wednesday night in Teterboro, New Jersey, according to FlightAware.

The airport in Teterboro is about 10 kilometres from Manhattan and is frequently used by private and corporate jets.

In the San Diego neighbourhood, the smell of jet fuel lingered in the air hours after the crash while authorities worked to put out one stubborn car fire. They described a frightening scene in the aftermath of the crash.

"I can't quite put words to describe what the scene looks like, but with the jet fuel going down the street, and everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see," San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said.

Half a dozen fully charred cars sat on the street and tree limbs, glass and pieces of white and blue metal were scattered on the road. At the end of the street black smoke billowed as the site continued to burn.

Wahl said more than 50 police officers were on the scene within minutes and began evacuating homes. At least 100 residents were displaced to an evacuation centre at a nearby elementary school.

Christopher Moore, who lives one street over from the crash site, said he and his wife were awakened by a loud bang and saw smoke when they looked out the window.

READ MORE: 'We need you home': Mum's plea as search for teen intensifies

They grabbed their two young children and ran out of the house. On their way out of the neighbourhood they saw a car engulfed in flames.

"It was definitely horrifying for sure, but sometimes you've just got to drop your head and get to safety," he said.

Police officers were rescuing multiple animals, including three husky puppies that were rolled away from the crash scene in a wagon.

A few blocks away, families including Moore's stood in their pyjamas in a parking lot waiting for word of when they can return to their homes.

Many military service members live in the neighbourhood, which is made up of single family homes and townhouses. It also is heavily populated by small civilian and military aircraft.

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport and Gillespie Field are nearby.

Eddy said it was very foggy at the time the private plane crashed.

"You could barely see in front of you," he said.

"The number of people on board is unknown at this time," the FAA said in a statement.

The FAA said the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation.

In October 2021, a twin-engine plane plowed into a San Diego suburb, killing the pilot and a UPS delivery driver on the ground and burning homes. It was preparing to land at the airport.

In December 2008, a Marine Corps fighter jet slammed into a house in San Diego's University City neighbourhood, causing an explosion that killed four people inside. The Marine Corps blamed the crash on mechanical failure and human error.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.