Cessna T210M and Cessna 180 mid-air collision near Thornton, California, November 29, 1992
On November 29, 1992 at about 9:28 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna T210M (N784RF) and Cessna 180 (N3313D), were involved in a mid-air collision near Thornton, California. 5 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE SACRAMENTO CONTROLLER TO ADVISE THE STOCKTON CONTROLLER OF THE IMPENDING UNSAFE SITUATION, AND THE FAILURE OF THE STOCKTON CONTROLLER TO ISSUE A TRAFFIC ADVISORY AND A SAFETY ALERT TO THE PILOT OF THE C-180, N3313D.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE SACRAMENTO CONTROLLER TO ADVISE THE STOCKTON CONTROLLER OF THE IMPENDING UNSAFE SITUATION, AND THE FAILURE OF THE STOCKTON CONTROLLER TO ISSUE A TRAFFIC ADVISORY AND A SAFETY ALERT TO THE PILOT OF THE C-180, N3313D.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 29, 1992 · about 9:28 pm local time
- Place
- Thornton, California · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N784RF · no longer on the register · serial T21062631
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N3313D · no longer on the register · serial 3211
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna T210M final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DEPARTURE FROM SACRAMENTO, THE PLT OF THE C-210, N784RF, HAD DECLINED FURTHER RADAR TRAFFIC ADVISORIES, AND WAS CLIMBING ON ABOUT A 152 DEG HEADING. THE PILOT HAD CHANGED RADIO FREQ, AND WAS RECEIVING WEATHER ADVISORIES FOR HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE C-180, N3313D, WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3,100 FT ON ABOUT A 307 DEG HEADING, AND THE PILOT HAD JUST TERMINATED HIS PARTICIPATION IN RECEIVING RADAR TRAFFIC ADVISORIES FROM THE STOCKTON TRACON. THE TWO AIRPLANES COLLIDED NEAR HEAD-ON ABOUT HALF WAY BETWEEN TWO TRACON FACILITIES. THE RIGHT WING OF THE C-210 CONTACTED THE LEFT WING OF THE C-180, AND BOTH WINGS SEPARATED ABOUT MID-SPAN IN ABOUT A 90-DEG ORIENTATION FROM EACH OTHER. VISIBILITY WAS REPORTED AS 10 MI IN HAZE. OTHER PILOTS REPORTED THAT SMOKE LIMITED VISIBILITY FROM 1 TO 5 MI IN THE AREA. BOTH AIRPLANES HAD MODE C ALTITUDE ENCODING, AND BOTH WERE DEPICTED ON RADAR PRIOR TO THE COLLISION.
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 180 final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DEPARTURE FROM SACRAMENTO, THE PLT OF THE C-210, N784RF, HAD DECLINED FURTHER RADAR TRAFFIC ADVISORIES, AND WAS CLIMBING ON ABOUT A 152 DEG HEADING. THE PILOT HAD CHANGED RADIO FREQ, AND WAS RECEIVING WEATHER ADVISORIES FOR HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE C-180, N3313D, WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3,100 FT ON ABOUT A 307 DEG HEADING, AND THE PILOT HAD JUST TERMINATED HIS PARTICIPATION IN RECEIVING RADAR TRAFFIC ADVISORIES FROM THE STOCKTON TRACON. THE TWO AIRPLANES COLLIDED NEAR HEAD-ON ABOUT HALF WAY BETWEEN TWO TRACON FACILITIES. THE RIGHT WING OF THE C-210 CONTACTED THE LEFT WING OF THE C-180, AND BOTH WINGS SEPARATED ABOUT MID-SPAN IN ABOUT A 90-DEG ORIENTATION FROM EACH OTHER. VISIBILITY WAS REPORTED AS 10 MI IN HAZE. OTHER PILOTS REPORTED THAT SMOKE LIMITED VISIBILITY FROM 1 TO 5 MI IN THE AREA. BOTH AIRPLANES HAD MODE C ALTITUDE ENCODING, AND BOTH WERE DEPICTED ON RADAR PRIOR TO THE COLLISION.
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 T210M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,710 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1992; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-540-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA at 9:22 pm
- Destination: CMA Camarillo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from SCK, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
The factual record for the Cessna 180 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,468 hours in all; 1,407 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,747 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 19, 1992; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: L65 Perris CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: 2Q3 Woodland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.