Torrance Munic. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Torrance, California 90505
Tuesady, October 30, 1990 14:16 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT THE STUDENT PILOT RECEIVED ABOUT A HALF-HOUR OF DUAL INSTRUCTION FROM A CFI. THE CFI REPORTED THAT THE STUDENT PILOT EXECUTED 9 TOUCH & GO TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS IN A COMPETENT MANNER AND HE ALLOWED THE STUDENT TO PERFORM HIS INITIAL SOLO FLIGHT. ON THE FIRST SOLO LANDING THE STUDENT PILOT IMPROPERLY FLARED AND THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND BEGAN TO PORPOISE. THE STUDENT FAILED TO PROPERLY RECOVER FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING AND WHEN THE PORPOISE STOPPED THE AIRPLANE WAS ANGLED TOWARD THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE STUDENT IMPROPERLY APPLIED EXCESSIVE LEFT RUDDER AND INADVERTENTLY ENTERED INTO A GROUND LOOP, EXITED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE 150-FT WIDE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH THE SOFT TERRAIN AND NOSED DOWN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRPLANE, MADE AN IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE SUBSEQUENT BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND HIS IMPROPER USE OF THE RUDDER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/30/1990
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1416
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City TORRANCE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 90505
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TORRANCE MUNIC.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 1423 Pacific Standard 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 PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 2230
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 30 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1550
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43984
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9592V
NTSB Number LAX91LA019
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 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier 172M
Aircraft Serial Number 17264394
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BEN BOW AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2929 AIRPORT DRIVE
Operator City TORRANCE
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 90505
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code TOA
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1347
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 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 29R
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --