Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Castaic, California 91310
Tuesady, August 15, 1989 10:35 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

BASED ON THE CFI'S STATEMENT, HE WAS INTRODUCING THE 5 HOUR DUAL PRIMARY STUDENT TO ENGINE FAILURE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. THE CFI SELECTED A PORTION OF THE PRACTICE AREA THAT IS MOUNTAINOUS, WITH RIDGE ELEVATIONS OF ABOUT 3,000 FT MSL, TO BEGIN THE MANEUVER. HE SAID THAT HE REDUCED THE POWER TO IDLE TO SIMULATE AN ENGINE FAILURE AND THE STUDENT RAISED THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT RAPIDLY AND SUDDENLY TO BEYOND THE STALL ATTITUDE. THE CFI SAID HE TOOK OVER AT THAT POINT, APPLIED POWER AND PUSHED THE NOSE OVER TO EFFECT A RECOVERY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DURING THE RECOVERY AS IT WAS ACHIEVING A CLIMB ATTITUDE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT, FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO ENSURE ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE PRIOR TO INITIATING THE MANEUVER, AND FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO TAKE TIMELY AND PROPER AND PROPER CORRECTIVE ACTIONS ONCE THE SITUATION WAS FULLY DEVELOPED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/15/1989
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1035
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City CASTAIC
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91310
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1046 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 131
Weather Observation Facility ID BUR
Elevation of weather observation facility 775
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 29
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 3100
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2173
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 15 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1620
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41850
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N152DM
NTSB Number LAX89FA280
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 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15279847
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 26 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 96
Airframe Hours 5517
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name J.D. KELHER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12657 OSBORNE STREET
Aircraft Owner City PACOIMA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91331
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SOUTHLAND AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Airport Code WHP
Departure City PACOIMA
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 940
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 Descent
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --