Cessna 150 accident near Banning, California, March 23, 1985
On March 23, 1985 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N6653G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Banning, California (Banning airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- March 23, 1985 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Banning, California · Banning · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N6653G · no longer on the register · serial 72153
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE 50 FT AGL WHILE MANEUVERING OVER A FREEWAY AT LOW ALT. A PALM SPRINGS ATC EMPLOYEE WHO WAS DRIVING HIS CAR IN THE EASTBOUND LANE OF I-10 APRX 10 NM EAST OF THE BANNING ARPT, OBSERVED THE ACCIDENT ACFT ON A WESTBOUND HEADING AT ABOUT 30 FT AGL. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE SAME OBSERVER SAW THE SAME ACFT FLYING EASTBOUND AS IT FLEW OVER HIS CAR AT AN ESTIMATED ALT OF 30 TO 50 FT AGL. THE ACFT WAS IN A LEVEL FLT ATTITUDE AND APPARENTLY IN NO DIFFUCULTY. THE OBSERVER SAW THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH AN OVERHEAD WIRE AND PITCH DOWN. THE ACFT WAS RECOVERED FROM THE FREEWAY CENTER SECTION WITH A HIGH TENSION WIRE IMBEDDED IN THE LEADING EDGE OF BOTH MAIN LNDG GEAR STRUTS NEXT TO THE FUSELAGE. THE HEIGHT OF THE WIRES WAS MEASURED AS 50 FT AGL BY CHIPS (CA HWY PATROL OFFICERS). THE STUDENT PLT HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO PRACTICE TAKEOFF & LNDGS. THIS WAS DONE FOR ABOUT 1+ HRS AS THE CFI WATCHED. AFTER 2 HRS, THE ACFT LEFT THE ARPT AREA. 15 MINUTES LATER, THE CFI WAS INFORMED OF THE CRASH 8 MILES EAST OF THE ARPT.
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: student
- Flight time: 37 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,813 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BNG at 7:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.