Luscombe 8F accident near Murrieta, California, October 11, 2003
On October 11, 2003 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Luscombe 8F, registered N1918B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Murrieta, California (French Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather which resulted in VFR flight into IMC, and his failure to maintain terrain clearance. Fog and rising terrain were contributing factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 2003 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Murrieta, California · French Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8F · all 8Fs on the register
- Registration
- N1918B · registry record · serial 6345
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with terrain just after departure. The pilot's friend had departed and reported clear weather conditions. As the pilot departed, a fog bank closed in. The pilot turned to the right in an attempt to land. During the turn, he saw a hill. He added power and attempted to avoid the hill, but the airplane impacted the hillside. Dense fog conditions were present during the time of the accident, and the pilot did not obtain a weather briefing prior to departure. There were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions.
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: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,928 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KF70 Murrieta CA at 2:55 pm
- Destination: A39 Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 2 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 200 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KRIV, 20 miles away
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.