Zamperini Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Torrance, California 90505
Monday, July 5, 1993 15:35 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS BEGINNING A BANNER TOWING FLIGHT, AND MANEUVERED OVER THE RUNWAY FOR AN AERIAL PICK-UP OF THE BANNER. JUST AFTER THE PICK-UP, THE BODY OF THE BANNER BEGAN TO FOLD FORWARD TOWARD THE AIRPLANE AND THE HEAD OF THE BANNER BEGAN TO DESCEND. THIS PRODUCED A STEEP NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO ROLL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE PILOT JETTISONED THE BANNER; HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO PREVENT A STALL. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND STRUCK THE GROUND ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT NEARBY HILLS PRODUCE TURBULENCE AND WINDSHEAR CONDITIONS. A WIND SHIFT AT THE AIRPORT HAD BEEN REPORTED ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

AN ENCOUNTER WITH A WINDSHEAR CONDITION. THE DELAYED BANNER JETTISON WAS A FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/5/1993
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1535
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City TORRANCE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 90505
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ZAMPERINI FIELD
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 101
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1535 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID TOA
Elevation of weather observation facility 101
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
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) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1122
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 5 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1604
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N79034
NTSB Number LAX93LA277
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172K
Aircraft Series Identifier 172K
Aircraft Serial Number 17257829
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Mar 19 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 91
Airframe Hours 2060
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STAR ADS. INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2722 LOFTY VIEW DR.
Aircraft Owner City TORRANCE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90505
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name STAR ADS. INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2722 LOFTY VIEW DR.
Operator City TORRANCE
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 90505
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
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 Climb
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 29R
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --