# NTSB WPR26LA030: Rutan Long-EZ, N8183K, Long Beach, CA, October 20, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report - Date: October 20, 2025, 16:03 local (23:03 UTC) - Place: Long Beach, CA · open field in a park - Coordinates: 33.83055, -118.11232 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8306&lon=-118.1123&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 201912 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA030 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201912/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA030 ## Preliminary report 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. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Lazzarini/Lazzarini LONG-EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056096N), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8183K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8183K), registered now, S/N RAF-717, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RUTAN Long-EZ - Registry model: [Lazzarini/Lazzarini LONG-EZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/lazzarini-lazzarini-long-ez) (registry code 056096N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: RAF-717 - Year built: 1986 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Departed: F70, Temecula, CA - Airport: LGB, Long Beach (Daugherty Fld) ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KLGB, 2 nm away - METAR: METAR KLGB 210053Z 31010KT 10SM CLR 22/14 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP150 T02220144= ## Other investigations on N8183K (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB SEA86LA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86LA162), Jul 5, 1986: Lazarini LONG-EZ (N8183K), Jackpot, NV, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.