Cessna 310 accident near Temecula, California, December 25, 1984
On December 25, 1984 at about 7:56 pm local time, a Cessna 310, registered N5209A, was destroyed in an accident near Temecula, California (Rancho California airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 25, 1984 · about 7:56 pm local time
- Place
- Temecula, California · Rancho California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310 · all 310s on the register
- Registration
- N5209A · registry record · serial 35409
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL POWER LOSS OF THE RT ENG DURING TAKEOFF FROM RANCHO CALIF AIRPORT & CRASHED ABOUT ONE HALF MI NORTHWEST. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB, NOR WOULD IT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AT ABOUT 40 FT AGL. HE STATED THAT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED A RT TURN TO AVOID A BUILDING THE ACFT SPEED 'PROBABLY' WENT BELOW VMC. EXAMINATION OF THE RT ENG FAILED TO REVEAL ANY FAILURE OF THE ROTATIONAL/MECHANICAL SYSTEM. OIL FROM AN UNKNOWN ORGIN WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR AIR SIDE. IN A PRESSURE CARBURETOR, ANY CONTAMINENTS COULD CAUSE AN IMMEDIATE POWER LOSS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,486 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 50 in the last 30 days; 2,163 as pilot in command; 1,700 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,305 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1984; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,600 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470-M (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: AVX Avalon CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,500 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from RIV, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.