Canyon Lake Man Was Piloting Small Plane That Crashed In Desert

CANYON LAKE, CA — A Canyon Lake man has been identified as the pilot in an aircraft that went down in the Riverside County desert area earlier this week. The man, who had posted online that it was his 'lifelong dream' to fly, died at the scene of the crash.

According to the Riverside County Coroner's Office, John Brent Stackhouse died Monday. His age was not released by the coroner's office, but the Desert Sun reported he was 67.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department received a witness report of the plane crash just before 6 p.m. Monday in a remote desert area near Corn Springs Road, a half-mile south of Interstate 10, but were initially unable locate the crash site 'due to the darkness, terrain and remote area,'' said Riverside County sheriff's Deputy Robyn Flores.

The downed aircraft was eventually located with the help of a sheriff's helicopter, she said.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said Stackhouse was the only person believed on board the Beechcraft Bonanza. He said an FAA inspector went to the crash site.

The pilot had left from Hemet on Monday morning, arrived in Mesa around noon, and was headed back to Hemet when diverted to Blythe because of turbulence, according to the Desert Sun.

Stackhouse had posted a YouTube video of himself flying the Bonanza back in 2017; a peaceful track plays as he flies over Riverside County.

He wrote, in part:

"Life Long Dream of mine since 1956 at 5 years old when I looked up above our home and said to my Dad 'what is that strange plane with a V shaped tail and Bombs?' He said, that I already have expensive taste, for that was the Cadillac of the Sky with not bombs but tip tanks. Finally realized the dream of a private pilots license 9/29/2014..."

The investigation into the crash will be led by the National Transportation Safety Board. It could take a year or more to determine the probable cause of the accident, Gregor said.

— City News Service contributed to this report.