Cessna TU206E accident near Murrieta, California, July 31, 2008
On July 31, 2008 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Cessna TU206E, registered N1499M, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Murrieta, California (French Valley Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A malfunction of the flight control system and loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 2008 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Murrieta, California · French Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206E · all TU206Es on the register
- Registration
- N1499M · no longer on the register · serial U20601499
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the airplane was climbing after takeoff, the pilot felt what he described as a shift in the airplane's attitude. The pilot tried to correct it with rudder input, then with manual trim, but neither actions corrected the out-of-trim condition. The pilot looked to see if something was jamming the rudder pedals, but could not find anything. The airplane was now in a slight descent and a shallow left turn. Exerting a great amount of effort he was able to get some response with the ailerons. The airplane was in a left turn descending orbit when the engine lost power; at that point the pilot identified a field to land in. Attempts to restart the engine were not successful. The pilot lowered 40 degrees of flaps and made an off-field landing that sheared off the nose gear. First responders reported that fuel was leaking from both wings when they arrived on scene. An FAA inspector reported that he found no anomalies with the airplane's flight controls, and that 60 to 80 gallons of fuel was recovered from the fuel tanks. A second and more detailed examination of the airplane's flight control system also revealed no anomalies. After wreckage recovery, the engine was test run. The engine started and ran for 2 minutes, achieving 2,000 rpm before being shut down.
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
What happened, in order
- Flight control sys malf/fail during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,188 hours in all; 1,934 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2,188 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 25, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,945.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 2007; 30.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-C3B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KF70 French Valley CA at 6:15 pm
- Destination: KREI Redlands CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from KRIV, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.