Amateur-built Glasair 1RG accident near Temecula, California, November 15, 2000
On November 15, 2000 at about 6:50 pm local time, a amateur-built Glasair 1RG, registered N41AL, was destroyed in an accident near Temecula, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude while performing aerobatic maneuvers, which resulted in the in-flight collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 2000 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Temecula, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Glasair 1RG GLASAIR 1R
- Registration
- N41AL · registry record · serial 704
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amateur-built, experimental single engine airplane collided with terrain while performing what a witness described as a series of aerobatic maneuvers. The witness described the airplane as pulling up, rolling, and then diving until out of sight This same maneuver was performed several times. At the bottom of each dive he heard the engine accelerate and the airplane would begin another climb. During the final maneuver, he did not hear the engine accelerate nor did he see the airplane climb again following the descent. A post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact anomalies to the airframe or engine. The pilot logbooks and airplane builder and maintenance records were not recovered. The private pilot accumulated approximately 288 total flight hours, of which an unknown amount were accumulated in the accident airplane. It is uncertain whether the pilot obtained any aerobatic flight training.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 288 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: Temecula CA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from RAL, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N41AL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.