Torrance Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Torrance, California 90510
Sunday, April 11, 1993 17:40 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL HE GLANCED AT THE LIFT RESERVE INDICATOR WHICH INDICATED THAT HE HAD ENOUGH LIFT TO FLY. THE AIRPLANE IS MODIFIED WITH A WREN 460 STOL KIT. THE AIRSPEED OF THE AIRPLANE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35-40 KNOTS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A LEFT ROLLING MOTION. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION INITIATED BY THE PILOT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND, LEFT WING TIP FIRST AND CAME TO REST BETWEEN THE TWO RUNWAYS. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH FAA INSPECTORS, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE 'STALL WARNING HORN WAS GOING OFF AS USUAL,' BUT HE CHOSE TO 'IGNORE IT AS USUAL.' ACCORDING TO THE WREN OPERATIONS MANUAL FOR THE AIRCRAFT, THE NORMAL TAKEOFF SPEED IS 60 MPH, AND A CLIMB SPEED OF 90 MPH.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT LIFT OFF AIRSPEED. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PILOTING SKILLS, AND THE INADVERTENT STALL OF THE AIRPLANE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/11/1993
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1740
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City TORRANCE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 90510
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TORRANCE MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TOA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 101
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1742 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID TOA
Elevation of weather observation facility 101
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 70
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 11 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1810
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48340
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:14PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N460JA
NTSB Number LAX93LA170
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 182G
Aircraft Series Identifier 182G
Aircraft Serial Number 18255829
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 13 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 74
Airframe Hours 1928
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DIANA P. SYVERTSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 531 ESPLANADE #313
Aircraft Owner City REDONDO BEACH
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90277
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DIANA P. SYVERTSON
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 531 ESPLANADE #313
Operator City REDONDO BEACH
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 90277
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 TOA
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1740
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 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 29
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --