EARLY ANALYSIS: Cessna Citation Crash on Missed Approach—Murrieta/Temecula, CA

The NTSB has released its preliminary report (WPR23FA257) regarding the investigation into the Cessna Citation 550 accident off Runway 18 at the Murrieta/Temecula-French Valley Airport (F70), California.

On Saturday, July 8, a Cessna Citation 550 crashed on approach into the French Valley Airport in Murrieta/Temecula, California. Sadly, the two pilots and four passengers perished in the accident.

The pilots had taken off from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas around 3:15 a.m., bound for the RNAV GPS approach to Runway 18 at French Valley Airport. On their second attempt to fly the approach, the airplane crashed around 500 feet short of the runway.

In Early Analysis: Cessna Citation Crash—Murrieta/Temecula, California, the AOPA Air Safety Institute makes a preliminary assessment of the accident, addressing notable portions of the tragic flight and highlighting areas the NTSB will likely investigate to determine a probable cause.

Learn more:

• Review the IFR Insights—A Practical Approach Online Course
• Review the Do the Right Thing—Decision Making for Pilot Safety Spotlight
• Review the Night Flying Accident Analysis Report 2017 - 2021
• Review the Fighting Fatigue Safety Spotlight