Rutan Long-EZ accident near Long Beach, California, October 20, 2025
On October 20, 2025 at about 11:03 pm local time, a 1986 Rutan Long-EZ, registered N8183K, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Long Beach, California (Long Beach (Daugherty Fld) airport). 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 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
- October 20, 2025 · about 11:03 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach (Daugherty Fld) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rutan Long-EZ, built 1986
- Registration
- N8183K · registry record · serial RAF-717
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 20, 2025, about 1603 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Rutan Long-EZ, N8183K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Long Beach, California. The pilot was seriously injured, and a pedestrian on the ground was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he had flown the airplane from the Compton/Woodley Airport (CPM), Compton, California, to French Valley Airport (F70), Murrieta/Temecula, California, as part of a flight of two airplanes. About 1530, the flight of two airplanes departed F70, with an intended destination of CPM. The pilot stated that the flight from F70 to the Corona area was normal and the engine was running smoothly. As he made a turn to the west to follow highway 91, he saw the fuel flow had dropped from 7 gallons per hour to 5 gallons per hour. The engine was still running normally but he radioed the lead airplane regarding the unusual fuel flow. The pilot stated that before reaching Fullerton, fuel flow had dropped to 3 gallons per hour, but the engine continued to run smoothly. The flight of two airplanes continued toward CPM and a few seconds later, the engine “throttled back.” He switched the fuel tank, turned on the electric boost pump, and enriched the mixture. The engine surged and decreased to idle, followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot attempted several times to restart the engine and diverted to Long Beach Airport/Daughtery Field (LGB), Long Beach, California. The pilot configured the airplane for best glide airspeed and noted it was descending about 700 ft per minute. When he realized that he would be able to make it to LGB, he initiated a forced landing to a nearby park. He stated that as he approached the park, he did not see anyone in the flight path of the airplane. During the forced landing to the park, the airplane struck a pedestrian. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: F70 Temecula CA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KLGB, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLGB 210053Z 31010KT 10SM CLR 22/14 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP150 T02220144=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N8183K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.