Cessna 182H accident near Temecula, California, August 19, 1990
On August 19, 1990 at about 5:00 am local time, a Cessna 182H, registered N2355X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Temecula, California (French Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT THAT RESULTED IN HIS CONTINUING FLIGHT WITH AN INOPERATIVE ALTERNATOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1990 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Temecula, California · French Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182H · all 182Hs on the register
- Registration
- N2355X · registry record · serial 18256255
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE PILOT WAS ENROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE NOT RECEIVING HIS TRANSPONDER SIGNAL. AFTER LANDING HE AND THREE PASSENGERS TOOK OFF FOR A NIGHT SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT AFTER THE RUNWAY LIGHTING HAD TRANSFERRED FROM CONTINOUS 'ON' TO PILOT CONTROL. APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AFTER TAKE OFF THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED FOR LANDING. WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN 'ON' THE RUNWAY LIGHTS BY KEYING HIS RADIO TRANSMITTER THE AIRCRAFT'S CABIN LIGHTS DIMMED AND THE RUNWAY LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON THE UNLIT AIRPORT. DURING THE GROUND ROLL THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED ONE OF THE PRECISION APPROACH PATH INDICATORS AND A FENCE.
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: 178 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 178 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R15 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: F70
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:55 am from RIV, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.