Compton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Compton, California 90220
Saturday, March 25, 1995 10:10 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS BEGINNING A LOCAL VFR FLIGHT. WHEN THE AIRPLANE REACHED THE WEST BOUNDARY OF THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING STRUCK A GAS STATION SIGN DURING THE RESULTING EMERGENCY LANDING. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST, INVERTED, ABOUT 108 FEET SOUTHEAST OF THE SIGN. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT BOTH WING FUEL CAPS DID NOT SEAL AGAINST THE FILLER NECK AND THE UNDAMAGED GASCOLATOR BOWL CONTAINED WATER. THE CARBURETOR BOWL, ACCELERATOR PUMP HOUSING, AND THE INLET OIL SCREEN DISPLAYED EXTENSIVE RUST PARTICLES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's poor preflight inspection, the mechanic's poor annual inspection, and the leaking fuel caps which allowed water to contaminate the fuel.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/25/1995
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1010
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City COMPTON
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 90220
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COMPTON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CPM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 200
Airport Elevation 97
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 62
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 25 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1020
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:09PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2232K
NTSB Number LAX95FA145
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LUSCOMBE
Aircraft Model 8E
Aircraft Series Identifier 8E
Aircraft Serial Number 4959
Certified Max Gross Weight 1460
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 31 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 13
Airframe Hours 2263
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOSEPH METRO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4297 LAVINIA ST.
Aircraft Owner City LYNWOOD
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90262
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1006
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25L
Runway Length 3670
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --