Tustin-Based Pilot Killed in Crash of Civilian Plane

A pilot stationed at the Tustin Marine Corps Helicopter Air Station was killed when an experimental civilian plane he was flying crashed near Murrieta, military officials said.

First Lt. Gregory T. Riddle, 32, died when his Grove GR7 plane crashed in an open field northeast of French Valley Airport in Riverside County about 10 a.m. Sunday, said Cpl. Matthew Butler, a spokesman for the air station. He was flying alone.

Riddle came to the Tustin air station last September and also served as a drill instructor there, said Cpl. Mike Moon, another spokesman. He is survived by his wife and 9-year-old daughter in Lake Elsinore.

Riddle was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 on Dec. 30, and was most recently a pilot of CH-53E aircraft, which Moon described as large, two-bladed helicopters. He graduated from flight training last August and had previously served as a helicopter mechanic.

He was not flying the experimental plane in a military capacity when he crashed, Moon said.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash, Butler said.