Torrance Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Torrance, California 90510
Saturday, May 5, 1990 17:16 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT INDICATED THE ENG LOST POWER AND CONTINUED TO IDLE AT 400 FT AGL WHILE IN A RIGHT TURN. THE PLT LANDED THE AIRPLANE ON THE TAKEOFF RWY IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION. THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE RWY, AND STRUCK AN IRRIGATION PIPE. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. AN 18 KNOT TAILWIND WAS REPORTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRPLANE HAD A LOSS OF ENG POWER IN AUGUST OF 1989. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT. THE ENG WAS EXAMINED AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION FOUND. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN ONCE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR SINCE AGU 1989. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ENG WAS AGAIN EXAMINED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE ENG STARTED AND RAN FOR 30 MIN AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN WASHED BEFORE THE AUGUST 1989 INCIDENT. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS AGAIN WASHED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

WATER CONTAMINATION INTRODUCED INTO THE AIRPLANE FUEL SYSTEM WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS WASHED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN 18 KNOT TAILWIND DURING LANDING ROLL WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE OVERRUNNING THE RUNWAY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/5/1990
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1716
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City TORRANCE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 90510
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TORRANCE MUNI
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 Pilot
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 18
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1851
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 5 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1740
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43749
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N300MD
NTSB Number LAX90LA165
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 MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20
Aircraft Series Identifier M20
Aircraft Serial Number 400
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STAUB, PAUL M
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7 EAST PACK SADDLE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City ROLLING HILLS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90274
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name STRAUB, PAUL M.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7 EAST PACKSADDLE ROAD
Operator City ROLLING HILLS
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 90274
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 11R
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --