Maule M-6-180 accident near Corona, California, July 2, 1985
On July 2, 1985 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Maule M-6-180, registered N5658F, was destroyed in an accident near Corona, California. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- July 2, 1985 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Corona, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule M-6-180 · all M-6-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5658F · no longer on the register · serial 8067C
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A BANNER TOWING MISSION, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING AT LOW ALT NEAR CALIFORNIA STATE FREEWAY 91. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE BANNER COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES AFTER THE ACFT HAD CROSSED OVER THE LINES AT A RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED. THE BANNER & TOW CABLE/ROPE RELEASED FROM THE ACFT & THE BANNER CAME TO REST ON THE POWER LINES. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT WHEN THE BANNER HIT THE POWER LINES, THE ACFT'S FORWARD MOVEMENT APPEARED TO STOP, THEN THE ACFT DROPPED OFF TO ITS LEFT & DESCENDED INTO THE PATH OF AN ONCOMING TRACTOR-TRAILER TRUCK. THE ACFT HAD NEARLY RECOVERED FROM THE DESCENT WHEN IT IMPACTED THE FREEWAY. THE DRIVER OF THE TRACTOR-TRAILER & HIS WIFE EXITED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURY; HOWEVER, THEIR SON, WHO EXITED THE RIGHT SIDE DURING THE EVACUATION, RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE ACFT & TRACTOR WERE DESTROYED BY IMPACT & FIRE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE ACFT OR TOWING EQUIPMENT PRIOR TO THE COLLISION WITH THE POWER LINES.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 496 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 361 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 335 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 6, 1985; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 10:25 pm
- Destination: CNO Chino CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from CNO, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.