Amateur-built Glasair SH-2 accident near Riverside, California, May 31, 2003
On May 31, 2003 at about 5:12 pm local time, a amateur-built Glasair SH-2, registered N73VL, was destroyed in an accident near Riverside, California (Riverside Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during an abrupt, low altitude maneuver during the takeoff-initial climb, which resulted in a collision with terrain during the subsequent uncontrolled descent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2003 · about 5:12 pm local time
- Place
- Riverside, California · Riverside Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Glasair SH-2
- Registration
- N73VL · no longer on the register · serial 145
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental single-engine airplane collided with terrain following a loss of control after takeoff. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane takeoff, climb to 200 to 300 feet (agl), make a sharp left turn, and nose-dive into the ground. A post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of pre-impact anomalies to the airframe or engine.
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: 1,300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 653.0 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 3, 2002; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RAL Riverside CA at 5:07 pm
- Destination: HMT Hemet CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 09, 5,401 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 5:10 pm from RAL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.