Cessna 150L and Cessna 140 mid-air collision near Corona, California, June 12, 1982
On June 12, 1982 at about 7:46 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 150L (N18007) and Cessna 140 (N90006), were involved in a mid-air collision near Corona, California. 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1982 · about 7:46 pm local time
- Place
- Corona, California
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N18007 · registry record · serial 73725
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N90006 · registry record · serial 9060
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150L final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH AIRCRAFT (A CESSNA 150L, N18007 AND A CESSNA 140, N90006) HAD TAKEN OFF FROM THE CORONA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, SOMETIME AROUND NOON ON 6/12/82. THE CESSNA 150 PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE ON A FLIGHT TO PORTERVILLE, CA, WHILE THE CESSNA 140 PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE FLYING TO STRAWBERRY VALLEY, UT. AT 1246 PDT, THE TWO AIRCRAFT COLLIDED IN FLIGHT AND FELL TO THE GROUND ABOUT ONE MILE EAST OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. SIX MILES NORTHWEST AT CHINO, THE WEATHER WAS REPORTED AS SKY PRTLY OBSCD, EST 2000 OVC, VIS 3 MI WITH HAZE. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE IN AND OUT OF CLOUDS PRIOR TO THE MID-AIR COLLISION. THE WRECKAGE OF BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE EXAMINED, BUT THE CONDITION OF THE WRECKAGE WAS SUCH THAT THE COLLISION ANGLE OR INITIAL CONTACT POINT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 140 final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH AIRCRAFT (A CESSNA 150L, N18007 AND A CESSNA 140, N90006) HAD TAKEN OFF FROM THE CORONA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, SOMETIME AROUND NOON ON 6/12/82. THE CESSNA 150 PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE ON A FLIGHT TO PORTERVILLE, CA, WHILE THE CESSNA 140 PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE FLYING TO STRAWBERRY VALLEY, UT. AT 1246 PDT, THE TWO AIRCRAFT COLLIDED IN FLIGHT AND FELL TO THE GROUND ABOUT ONE MILE EAST OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. SIX MILES NORTHWEST AT CHINO, THE WEATHER WAS REPORTED AS SKY PRTLY OBSCD, EST 2000 OVC, VIS 3 MI WITH HAZE. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE IN AND OUT OF CLOUDS PRIOR TO THE MID-AIR COLLISION. THE WRECKAGE OF BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE EXAMINED, BUT THE CONDITION OF THE WRECKAGE WAS SUCH THAT THE COLLISION ANGLE OR INITIAL CONTACT POINT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Cessna 150L from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,469 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Corona CA
- Destination: PTV Porterville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:45 pm from CND, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 140 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 195 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 123 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,266 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Corona CA
- Destination: Strawberry Vall UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.