Maule MX-7-180 accident near Oceano, California, December 30, 1992
On December 30, 1992 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Maule MX-7-180, registered N5653R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oceano, California (Oceano County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 30, 1992 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Oceano, California · Oceano County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX-7-180 · all MX-7-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5653R · registry record · serial 11001C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT THE LEFT BRAKE SEEMED TO BE DRAGGING ON LANDING AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE LEFT TURNING TENDENCY WITH RUDDER AND RIGHT BRAKE INPUTS. THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND GROUND LOOPED AFTER ENCOUNTERING SOFT SOIL. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN UNRESOLVED MAINTENANCE PROBLEM WITH DRAGGING BRAKES AND THE ABILITY TO COMPLETELY RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE WHEN HE BEGAN THE FLIGHT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 316 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 490 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 6, 1992; 396 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O18 Hanford CA at 8:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,335 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.