Stinson 108-3 and Cessna 152 mid-air collision near Temecula, California, August 11, 1983
On August 11, 1983 at about 7:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Stinson 108-3 (N12HK) and Cessna 152 (N46757), were involved in a mid-air collision near Temecula, California (Rancho California airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- August 11, 1983 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Temecula, California · Rancho California
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Stinson 108-3 · all 108-3s on the register
- Registration
- N12HK · no longer on the register · serial 108-4257
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N46757 · no longer on the register · serial 15283100
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Stinson 108-3 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A STINSON 108-3, N12HK, PILOTED BY A PRIVATE PLT, & A CESSNA 152, N46757, PILOTED BY A STUDENT PLT, COLLIDED WHILE BOTH ACFT WERE CRUISING AT 5500 FT MSL. THE PRIVATE PLT (OF N12HK) REPORTED HE AS ON A MAGNETIC HEADING 130 DEG & WAS INDICATING 92 MPH (ABOUT 80 KTS). THE STUDENT PLT (N6757), STATED HE WAS TRACKING A VOR RADIAL, HEADING ABOUT 150 DEG, & AS INDICATING 95 KTS. NEITHER PLT SAW THE OTHER ACFT BEFORE IMPACT. DURING THE COLLISION, THE PROPELLER OF THE CESSNA 52 STRUCK THE LEFT MAIN GEAR & LOWER FUSELAGE SKIN OF THE STINSON 108-3. THE STINSON PLT CONTINUED ON TO RAMDNA, CA & LANDED WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE ENG OF THE CESSNA QUIT RUNNING, BUT THE PROPELLER CONTINUED TO WINDMILL. THE STUDENT CLOSED THE MIXTURE SO THAT THE ENG WOULD NOT RESTART & MADE A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING AT THE RANCHO ARPT AT TEMECULAR,CA. THE CESSNA SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER, SPINNER, ENG COWLING & LEADING EDGE OF THE RIGHT WING.
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 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A STINSON 108-3, N12HK, PILOTED BY A PRIVATE PLT, & A CESSNA 152, N46757, PILOTED BY A STUDENT PLT, COLLIDED WHILE BOTH ACFT WERE RUISING AT 5500 FT MSL. THE PRIVATE PLT (OF N12HK) REPORTED HE WAS ON A MAGNETIC HEADING 130 DEG & WAS INDICATING 92 MPH (ABOUT 80 KTS). THE STUDENT PLT (N46757), STATED HE WAS TRACKING A VOR RADIAL, HEADING ABOUT 150 DEG, & WAS INDICATING 95 KTS. NEITHER PLT SAW THE OTHER ACFT BEFORE IMPACT. DURING THE COLLISION, THE PROPELLER OF THE CESSNA 152 STRUCK THE LEFT MAIN GEAR & LOWER FUSELAGE SKIN OF THE STINSON 108-3. THE STINSON PLT CONTINUED ON TO RAMONA, CA & LANDED WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE ENG OF THE CESSNA QUIT RUNNING, BUT THE PROPELLER CONTINUED TO WINDMILL. THE STUDENT CLOSED THE MIXTURE SO THAT THE ENG WOULD NOT RESTART & MADE A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING AT THE RANCHO ARPT AT TEMECULA, CA. THE CESSNA SUSTAINED MAINOR DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER, SPINNER, ENG COWLING & LEADING EDGE OF THE RIGHT WING.
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 Stinson 108-3 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 660 hours in all; 508 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 630 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,540 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 12, 1982; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RIR Riverside CA at 6:40 pm
- Destination: L39 Ramona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from RIV, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 63 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 18 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,016 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 27, 1983; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation Facilities
The flight
- Departed from: HMT Hemet CA at 11:45 am
- Destination: L39 Ramona CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 30, 3,465 ft by 60 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.