Amateur-built Sonex accident near Murrieta, California, December 28, 2007
On December 28, 2007 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Sonex, registered N365SX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Murrieta, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 2007 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Murrieta, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Sonex
- Registration
- N365SX · no longer on the register · serial 365
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during cruise flight, the engine lost power. The pilot was able to restart the engine momentarily before it lost power a second time as he initiated a forced landing to an open field. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear encountered a hole and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed structural damage to the horizontal stabilizer and rudder. No evidence of fuel was observed on the ground surrounding the airplane or leaking from the airplane. No fuel was observed within the airframe fuel sump. The pilot reported to local law enforcement shortly after the accident that he "believes he possibly ran out of fuel."
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: 250 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 250 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 19, 2007
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11.5 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 20, 2007; 0.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 3300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RIR Riverside CA at 7:45 pm
- Destination: RIR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from RIV, 19 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.