Piper PA-28-161 and Cessna T207A mid-air collision near Banning, California, June 9, 1994
On June 9, 1994 at about 11:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-161 (N4512Z) and Cessna T207A (N6383H), were involved in a mid-air collision near Banning, California (Banning airport). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. THE HAZE WAS A FACTOR.
THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. THE HAZE WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1994 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Banning, California · Banning · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N4512Z · no longer on the register · serial 28-8016020
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna T207A · all T207As on the register
- Registration
- N6383H · registry record · serial 20700504
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-161 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PA-28, N4512Z, WAS WESTBOUND IN LEVEL FLIGHT ABOUT 1,000 FT AGL, ABOUT 2 MILES NORTH OF AN AIRPORT AT WHICH AN INTERMEDIATE STOP WAS PLANNED. THE CE-T207A, N6383H, WAS MANEUVERING IN LEFT TURNS WHILE CONDUCTING AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY, AND HAD JUST INITIATED A TURN TOWARD THE EAST. THE LEFT WINGS OF EACH AIRCRAFT WERE STRUCK BY THE OTHER AIRPLANE. WITNESSES INDICATED THAT ABOUT 2 SECONDS BEFORE IMPACT, THE PA-28 ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A COLLISION BY BEGINNING A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN. EACH AIRCRAFT CONTINUED PAST THE OTHER AND THEN BOTH SPIRALED TO THE GROUND. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR, VISIBILITY 3 MILES IN HAZE. NEITHER AIRPLANE WAS IN RADAR OR VOICE CONTACT WITH ANY FAA FACILITY.
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 T207A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PA-28, N4512Z, WAS WESTBOUND IN LEVEL FLIGHT ABOUT 1,000 FT AGL, ABOUT 2 MILES NORTH OF AN AIRPORT AT WHICH AN INTERMEDIATE STOP WAS PLANNED. THE CE-T207A, N6383H, WAS MANEUVERING IN LEFT TURNS WHILE CONDUCTING AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY, AND HAD JUST INITIATED A TURN TOWARD THE EAST. THE LEFT WINGS OF EACH AIRCRAFT WERE STRUCK BY THE OTHER AIRPLANE. WITNESSES INDICATED THAT ABOUT 2 SECONDS BEFORE IMPACT, THE PA-28 ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A COLLISION BY BEGINNING A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN. EACH AIRCRAFT CONTINUED PAST THE OTHER AND THEN BOTH SPIRALED TO THE GROUND. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR, VISIBILITY 3 MILES IN HAZE. NEITHER AIRPLANE WAS IN RADAR OR VOICE CONTACT WITH ANY FAA FACILITY.
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 Piper PA-28-161 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 114 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 18 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,431 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1994; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Desert Pacific
The flight
- Departed from: BLH Blythe CA at 10:29 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Observation at 11:46 pm from BUO, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna T207A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,032 hours in all; 1,160 in this make and model; 148 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 4,927 as pilot in command; 547 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,545 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 1994; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: I.K. Curtis Services, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BUR Burbank CA at 6:49 pm
- Destination: San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.