Whiteman Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pacoima, California 91331
Monday, July 15, 1996 19:23 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The CFI had the airplane refueled in preparation for his student's BFR. The CFI and the student (a private pilot) departed, climbed to traffic pattern altitude, and entered the downwind leg. Abeam the control tower, the private pilot was issued a landing clearance and the pilot turned onto the base leg while the airplane descended. The CFI reported that when he instructed his student to decrease the descent rate, he realized that engine power was suddenly unavailable. The CFI took the controls, made a forced landing in a residential area, and collided with obstacles. The postimpact examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal evidence of fuel system contamination or blockages. The engine was successfully test run.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/15/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1923
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City PACOIMA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91331
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WHITEMAN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID WHP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1003
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1930 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID WHP
Elevation of weather observation facility 1003
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
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 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1480
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 15 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1945
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:12AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N87107
NTSB Number LAX96LA273
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 Bellanca
Aircraft Model 8GCBC
Aircraft Series Identifier 8GCBC
Aircraft Serial Number 68-74
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Jan 12 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 53
Airframe Hours 899
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DARRELL D. LATHAM
Aircraft Owner Street Address 23407 COVELLO
Aircraft Owner City WEST HILLS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91304
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RED BARON AERIAL ADVERTISING
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 12653 OSBORNE ST.
Operator City PACOIMA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91331
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code WHP
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1920
Departure Time Zone PDT
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 4120
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --