Robin wrote on Feb 27, 2008 5:39 AM:These crashes are becoming more and more frequent. This is at least the third in a year. I've lived in the Silverhawk are for 12 years and have never been concerned about living so close to the airport until now. I wonder if any one will look into this and find out why so many planes are going down in that area.......

Great Job! wrote on Feb 27, 2008 6:32 AM:Kudos to the pilot for bringing this plane down safely! Now since the FAA is finally in the Temecula Valley, perhaps they could investigate those awful annoying hot air balloon pilots that risk the lives and limbs of their passengers and the people on the ground by flying too close to trees and structures. Those pilots are the dangerous ones!

A Pilot wrote on Feb 27, 2008 9:04 AM:Robin... Every accident is investigated and the report is made available. I do not think there have been any fatal accidents at F70 in the past couple years, so the pilots are doing their job. I'm just glad noone was killed.

good luck wrote on Feb 27, 2008 9:26 AM:Good luck trying to report dangerous activity to the FAA! I have tried on numerous occasions to report issues with low flying aircraft, acrobatic maneuvers above densely populated housing, and planes flying low over Pourroy, Promontory Parkway, and Murrieta Hot Springs Road and the FAA safety hotline voicemail is always full.

I have no issue with FV Airport itself, just the idiots who think that they can do whatever they want and who cares about the safety of the people on the ground.

I mentioned this problem to a former colleague of mine at the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center in the D.C. area, but nothing ever came of it. Knowing how inefficient the FAA's organization is, I highly doubt that anyone at the ATCSCC would even have a clue on how to report a problem in Southern California.

I am waiting for one of these daredevil pilots to crash into a home in my neighborhood and then perhaps we'll see someone taking action.

Bottom line, take the acrobatic maneuvers out to the desert and stop performing them over populated areas. I can't believe that the airport management allows so many planes to loiter in the airspace surrounding the airport. An airport is for takeoffs and landings, not for showing off your aviation skills.

Oh, one more thing...let's be thankful that this plane didn't crash into the side of the big hill above the airport up near Alamos Elementary.

Pieter wrote on Feb 27, 2008 10:13 AM:This airport needs to go. It is just a matter of time before those coming in over Winchester Rd crash into traffic, or worse into the surrounding neighborhoods. Our homes in FV have already taken a dive because because of the artificially created mortgage crisis, can you even imagine what would happen if a twin prop crashed into French Vally I or Morningstar Ranch (where we live?). The airport was just a small enterprise 4 years ago when we bought. It turned out to be just another lie from the Realtor types.........

informed wrote on Feb 27, 2008 11:16 AM:Buy a house near an airport and then be surprised there are airplanes nearby? Now I know where the writers get material for Homer Simpson...DOH...

Common Sense wrote on Feb 27, 2008 12:07 PM:You live near an Airport, work with it to voice your concerns, instead of wining about it. I agree a bit with "informed", what do you really expect when you live near an Airport? Should we get rid of all Airports that have an accident near them? No! Maybe we should remove all roads since most every road has had a car accident on it. Maybe you could move your house away from the accident prone roads...?

Dennis wrote on Feb 27, 2008 12:12 PM:The important thing is that everyone survived. French Valley was there long before any of the nimby whiner's homes were built. If you don't like living near an area with an airport or hot air balloons, why would you buy there and then complain? Two words for you "due diligence". We also used to have two other small strips. One near Rancho Cal, and Diaz. And one in Murrieta, Cal oaks. In the 70's in the Temecula Valley, it wasn't uncommon for guys to land at their own homes on small dirt strips. If they have uncontaminated fuel, and a crankcase full of oil, they really DON'T fall out of the sky that frequently. Statistically, it's safer than driving to the grocery store. Besides, the fixed wing community around here are a good group. Everyone knows it's the rotorheads that you can't trust.

Pilot wrote on Feb 27, 2008 12:53 PM:Hay guess what else guys! Student pilots with no instructors fly over you house everyday! I just hope they dont start falling out of the sky all of a sudden and into your back yards!!!! Don't buy your house next to my airport! Great job by the pilot for making such a great engine out landing! I pray Ill be good enough to do as well as he!

Gina wrote on Feb 27, 2008 12:56 PM:A great ending to such a scary story! Looks like angels were this planes wings...Thank God!

Pieter wrote on Feb 27, 2008 1:52 PM:There is a difference between buying a home near a small strip where once a day a plane takes off which was FV four years ago and which didn't bother me, and a full blast regional airport that serves every casino in the neighborhood which it has become now. Considering the way folks drive around Temecula, they shouldn't be flying anyway.

airport hater wrote on Feb 27, 2008 2:05 PM:I hate that stupid airport.

Lisa wrote on Feb 27, 2008 3:04 PM:Just wanted to add a note in response to the comments about daredevil pilots doing stunts. Let's make sure everyone knows that this pilot was not a daredevil pilot doing stunts. He is a father who was taking his children and their friends on a simple sightseeing plane ride over the valley. So let's please not mistake this plane crash with anything other then what it was, a mechanical issue. Definite Kudos for the pilot! And YES, these wonderful people were blessed as each of them had to of had an angel watching over them. Thank God they are all safe!

Air-cooled ultra-lites wrote on Feb 27, 2008 3:21 PM:Robin noticed that crashes were becoming more frequent and Dennis made mention of uncontaminated fuel and a crankcase full of oil and they got me to remembering. I've spent a lifetime around motors and planes and I recall a situation at Ryan Field in Hemet many years ago. There were MANY crashes happening when the air cooled ultra-lites were coming in for landing. They took off and flew around just fine but when they slowed down to come in for landing the air-cooled engines heated up due to the reduced air flow. The engines siezed rather frequently and quite a few low altitude crashes occurred. My mechanic friend noticed and then made a major communication effort to try to contact as many pilots and owners as possible to urge them to change to synthetic oil which didn't break down like regular oil at the higher heat ranges that occurred due to the slower air speed conditions and the crashes pretty much quit happening altogether. Incidentally, I've seen statistics that say horses are the No. 1 most dangerous mode of transportation and air travel is the safest when factoring in miles traveled. Highway travel was the next most dangerous after horses. It's a fact, however, that sooner or later we don't get out of this life alive, so I'd rather get out and go than sit around and wait. Have a nice day!

GetaLife wrote on Feb 27, 2008 3:31 PM:I always laugh when people buy a house near a road, freeway and in this case an airport and then complain about the noise and want it go away. Give me a break! You were the one that moved there, the airport has been there forever. Get over yourselves!

Another Pilot wrote on Feb 27, 2008 3:47 PM:It's not so much a matter of angels as a matter of training. Every pilot has to prove their ability to safely handle an engine failure before they are allowed into the air on their own. Speak to a pilot who has had an in-flight engine failure and very often they will say "I heard the voice of my instructor telling me what to do".

Umm.. wrote on Feb 27, 2008 4:32 PM:A realtor is in it for their commission. Of course they're going to tell you it's probably going to close, it's a quiet airport, etc. You bought a house near an airport. D'oh!

Robin wrote on Feb 27, 2008 6:22 PM:I have no issue at all with the airport. My issue is with the pilots and their ability to keep their planes in the air. I am very aware that all incidents are investigated. I just think it's odd that we are suddenly having more frequent incidences. As for no fatalities at the airport - that's a true statement, but as far as it being the result of pilots doing their job - their job is to keep that machine in the air or on the runway....

Umm.. wrote on Feb 27, 2008 7:23 PM:If the investigation provides evidence that infact the aircraft was no longer able to maintain altitude - there is not much the pilot can do about it. If on the other hand, it's something lame like a fuel selector problem, or John Denver like fuel planning, well then .. you have a point about keeping the machine in the air..

Temecula Pilot wrote on Feb 27, 2008 9:07 PM:I remember landing at French Valley airport in the late 80's just after it had openend. I remember saying to myself, how deslolate a location for this airport. It will be a good safe location. There wasn't a house or building anywhere to be seen. I had been flying out of Montgomery Field in San Diego, which is surrounded by buildings and structures and it was nice to land at a remote location. The airport was there long before track home builders started selling cheap housing. Think about why the houses around French Valley airport were such a great deal. It's becuase they are located near an airpot. Don't get mad at the Pilots, who utilize the airport and bring commerce to the valley. Get mad at the greedy land developers who build high density track homes on cheap land surrounding airports because they know money can be made from home buyers looking for a GREAT DEAL! Kudo's to the pilot of the Lancair who brought the plane down in a safe location.

A Pilot wrote on Feb 27, 2008 9:53 PM:The pilots job it to ensure safety of the flight. If they passengers walked away from an off field landing, he did his job. Believe me when I say the most scary thing for a pilot is to be in a position where an off field landing is required. Yes we are trained for it, but it is a thing you hope to never use.

As for the comments about 4 years ago the airport had a single takeoff / landing per day is a total lie. Four years ago I was at F70 nearly every day. It was common, particularly on weekends, to have 6-7 planes in the pattern and serveral waiting to take the runway and 3+ addition inbound on the 45 or at the training area.

The fact is F70 has been here long before any of the houses. The only expansion was 2 years ago when they added a few hundred feet to the runway so they can get charters out and maintain FAA regulations. The big iron will never be here and never has.

to pieter wrote on Feb 28, 2008 12:57 AM:so pieter thinks the airport needs to go?
well thats typical...build thousands of homes around something that has been in the area for decades and then want it to suddenly disappear
instead of shutting down the airport, how about thinking before you build homes that close? or even better...if you dont like it... move!!

A Pilot wrote on Feb 28, 2008 2:20 AM:Hey Robin, you seem to know alot about what a pilots responsibility is, how long you been one???

Pieter wrote on Feb 28, 2008 10:22 AM:Single prop plane crashes in neighborhood in Riverside, killing four, nearly missing residential properties. I rest my case. FV Airport has no place at its current location, Temecula doesn't need an airport as Ontario is close enough and easily accessible. SW Riverside County needs a real hospital, places to work, progress that brings revenue. Not valubale land hogged by amateur pilots endangering not just FV, but the Murrietta and Temecula as well.

Phil wrote on Feb 28, 2008 11:11 AM:Let's keep things in perspective. Your car endangers more people than my plane will ever (e.g. time in car versus time in plane). It's a choice to fly. It's a choice to drive. It's a choice where you live. Let's not be so narrow-minded as to see the forest from the trees.

Robin wrote on Feb 29, 2008 5:52 AM:To A Pilot - I'm not a pilot - but I do know what responsibilty and accountability are..... So tell me, just what is a pilot's responsibility if not to ensure the safety of his passengers and the people on the ground... I understand mechanical failure - my initial post was to address the fact that incidences have increased at FV lately and I am curious why. Is it from using the wrong fuel, too short a runway, pilot inexperience, or???? Why is everyone so quick to defend and assume the pilots and airport are being attacked?

Survivor wrote on Feb 29, 2008 9:35 AM:Robin, Pilots in the US are trained to handle emergencies and they do their best to protect passengers and people on the ground. I think this guy performed admirably, becuase he was low on altitude and low on power when he had an emergency. Those two lows can instantly kill. To be able to walk away from a crash in that configuration deserves kudos.

The number of incidences at your airport is just a statistical anomoly and will get corrected over time, when another airport may get hit by similar anomoly and give your airport a break.

I am a pilot also and I landed on I-70 in flowing traffic last Sunday near Indianapolis. But I had a huge amount of time (6 minutes to come down from 7000 ft) compared to this pilot before I landed. From experience I can tell you, I was not staring death in the face - far from it. I was extremely focused on saving my life and protecting those on the ground. I was able to do both owing to the excellent training in emergency procedures that pilots receive in the US. Pilots also go up and practice those procedures repeatedly, for just such an occurance.


Drive safe, there are drunk drivers every where - you wouldn't want to close down all the bars in California to eliminate them, would you ?
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Another Temecula Pilot wrote on Feb 29, 2008 10:19 AM:As a pilot with 26 years of commercial flying I am always curious who these whiney civilian people are that come out of the wood work to critisize the best rated and trained pilots in the world in the united states. Getting rid of FV airport and many other airports around the country not only lessons our national security how whiney will all of you be if there is a national crisis and nobody is able to fly in supplys because
you wanted to close this airport. Also if they new anything about Hot Air Balloons you would know that those wounderful beautiful balloons need winds to move them to a safe place to land and sometimes those winds are on the surface. Just go back to watching Oprah and leave the flying to the profesionals these are the same guys that fly you on your most earned vacation destinations.

Fullerton Pilot wrote on Feb 29, 2008 2:49 PM:Pieter,

Just because Ontario has an airport doesn't mean that any plane should land there. I think if you had your way, you would force everbody to do what only you want them to do. This is a free country, the airport was there before the homes and hospital. Maybe they should be moved before the airport is!!

Proud Pilot wrote on Feb 29, 2008 7:20 PM:The Lancair pilot did a great job in difficult conditions. It would be nice if everyone knew the level of training and scrutiny it takes to get a pilot's license. If only the DMV had a program that had a fraction of the time as a private pilots license, we wouldn't have all the idiots on the road that we do now.

As for shutting down F70, its typical banter from a small mind. The same kind of small mind that would buy a house in the proximity of an airport to start.

Robin wrote on Feb 29, 2008 8:19 PM:I am not blaming the pilot or the airport. I just want to know why incidences have increased. My gosh, stop trying to defend yourselves!!!! You guys are not paying attention to the question. WHAT is causing these planes to crash..... and why is it necessary to be so confrontational?

Glad I Sold Near FVA wrote on Feb 29, 2008 9:16 PM:I am so glad to have moved out of the southerly flight path of French Valley Airport in 2003. For the 6 years I lived off Nicolas Rd, air traffic steadily increased (especially into the early morning and nighttime hours). I take full responsibility and should have done more due diligence. Luckily, no crashes; however, I saw one close call when I was in my backyard one day. Again, I'm glad to have sold my place!

Proud Pilot wrote on Mar 1, 2008 9:04 AM:Cars crash, motorcyles crash, trains crash, boats crash and yes planes crash. Why does anything crash? Mechanical failure, weather conditions, acts of god and of course, people. I have been flying from F70 for over 2 years and I am only aware of 2 incidences in that period, both non-fatal and both in non-populated areas.

It becomes a question of the chicken and the egg. The airports in most cases have been there for much longer than the residents. The Cities get greedy for tax dollars and rezone the surrounding land areas. The people move in, complain about the airport and apply pressure to the City to close the airports, even though the airport has been a fixture for years and serves a very valuable purpose.

It is so very frustrating to see people led by the nose by unscrupulous realtors and developers and then have those same people (who didn't spend 1 minute of time checking out the area before they made the biggest purchase of their lives) complain about an airport that was so obviously in their backyard. Can you say "stupid"?

Balloon Pilot wrote on Mar 9, 2008 6:34 PM:Yeah! Those balloon pilots gatta go!! Lynch them for wanting to give the people a little different out look on the planet. You obviously never went on a balloon ride yourself. Give it a try. Change YOUR perspective and see what it is like. Everyone says they are dangerous when one crashes but they NEVER talk about the hundreds of thousands of SUCCESSFUL flights that happen every year all over the world. If someone if breaking an FAR then sure go ahead and turn them into the FAA. If they aren't then shut up and enjoy the view! I am sick of hearing poeple bash hot air balloon pilots ... Get a life and move on! Oh yeah......I am very glad the people on that plane were ok. Anyone with the drive to get up into the air with ANY kind of aviation is good in my book and should be commended for having a little zest for life.

Kyle wrote on Mar 9, 2008 7:27 PM:Who is ... complaining about "dangerous" hot air balloons flying close to trees? You can totally smack a tree with a balloon and keep on flying like nothing happened. What other aircraft can do that? NONE. Power lines are the only notable hazard for balloons, and you won't find any pilots intentionally flying low over power lines.

Laslo T. wrote on Mar 9, 2008 7:43 PM:Most of the people who have posted here are ridiculous. How many people were hit by cars this year in and around your neighborhoods. How many were killed. It might make sense to start worrying about drunk drivers, poorly trained drivers, drivers who are no longer capable of operating a motor vehicle, etc. As for balloonist flying too low or near trees... they following the same Federal Regulations that airplane pilots follow. They are not doing stunts, they are taking off and landing or where it is allowed flying low and enjoying themselves. Lets get all the boats our of the water so they are not near swimmers or divers, lets remove the golf clubs from every golfers hands so they cannot hit a passerby or a vehicle driving down the street, oh take the guns away from policemen as someone may struggle it away from him or her and shoot an innocent bystander... bottom line, wake up and understand that aviation is probably the most highly regulated form of transportation. Planes do not fall out of the sky on a routine basis. When they do, pilots are trained to not only land safely, but worry about your safety too. Most plane crashes are controlled affairs with someone at the controls of an aircraft that is gliding. The most prevalent place a crash occurs is on takeoff and landing. Many reasons for that, but bottom line, low altitudes do not allow for much room to recover if something goes wrong. Good luck, learn more about aviation and you will not be such chicken littles... Again, get the drunks and drug addicts out from behind the wheels of vehicles.

America One wrote on Mar 9, 2008 9:04 PM:I don't get it. A plane crashes and someone complains about those damn balloons. I missing the linkage. Balloon pilots are trained to fly through the trees to slow them if the wind increase and use the wind for steering since there is no power. Different winds at different levels. Plus, they have to come down sometime. That is a basic rule of gravity. So, can someone help me with the complaintent on this segue?

A Balloon Pilot wrote on Mar 10, 2008 6:39 AM:To anyone who thinks balloons are too dangerous to allow anyone to fly in them:
Please take the time and effort to find a local balloon pilot and ask them to show you how they fly. Be careful - you may like what you see and get hooked on the sport.
To those who don't know, balloons have only two controls - heat to go up or stay level, and a vent to initiate descent or to deflate on landing. All other directional changes are dependent on God and the skill of the pilot to find the right winds. The low flying balloons are all just looking for a bit of land with enough room to safely land the balloon. Hard to do when developers have put Way too many developments out there.
Glad to be in a place where there is still a lot of undeveloped land to fly over.