Torrance Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Torrance, California 95505
Friday, April 9, 1982 12:40 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE INITIAL FLIGHT FROM LOS ANGELES, CA, THE PILOT DRAINED A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER FROM THE FUEL TANKS. AFTER MAKING A BATTERY START, THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS DEPARTED ON A FLIGHT TO THE SANTA CATALINA AIRPORT WHERE THEY HAD LUNCH. FROM THERE, THEY FLEW TO TORRANCE, CA AND REFUELED WITH 27 GALLONS OF 80/87 OCTANE FUEL BEFORE RETURNING TO LOS ANGELES. DURING THE DEPARTURE FROM TORRANCE, THE PLANE WAS OBSERVED IN A SHALLOW CLIMB. DURING THE CLIMB, THE ENGINE WAS HEARD TO DECREASE IN POWER. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A STEEP BANK, THE BANK WAS SHALLOWED OUT, AND THEN A STEEP BANK WAS REENTERED. AFTER THAT, THE NOSE DROPPED, THE AIRCRAFT DOVE TOWARD THE GROUND, THEN CRASHED AND BURNED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AND A DISASSEMBLY OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS DATED 3/17/81. THE LAST ANNUAL OF THE ENGINE WAS DATED 2/22/80.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/9/1982
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1240
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City TORRANCE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95505
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 4
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 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 Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1245
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID TOA
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 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1108
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N30162
NTSB Number LAX82FA130
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 177
Aircraft Series Identifier 177
Aircraft Serial Number 17701090
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 88
Airframe Hours 1602
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIRESEARCH FLYING CLUB
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 4228
Aircraft Owner City TORRANCE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90510
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AIRESEARCH FLYING CLUB
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 4228
Operator City TORRANCE
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 90510
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code TOA
Departure City TORRANCE
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1238
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LAX
Destination City LOS ANGELES
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
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 --