Torrance Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Torrance, California
Tuesady, May 18, 1982 16:22 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO PROVIDE INSTRUMENT TRAINING TO A NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT. THE AIRCREW ESTIMATED THAT THERE WAS 10 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD WHEN THEY TOOK OFF. ABOUT 1 HR LATER, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AS THE AIRCREW WERE ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO LAND. REPORTEDLY, THE RIGHT FUEL GAUGE INDICATED EMPTY, BUT THE LEFT GAUGE INDICATED ABOUT 1/4 FULL. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE OR GLIDE TO THE AIRPORT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD OF POTTED TREES AT A NURSERY. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK A NUMBER OF 5 GALLON CANS IN WHICH THE TREES WERE POTTED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. LESS THAN 1/2 CUP OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLOWN 2.1 HRS ON THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT. THE AIRCREW ESTIMATED THAT THE PLANE WOULD FLY 3.3 TO 3.5 HRS WITHOUT REFUELING. THE TOTAL TIME SINCE THE PLANE WAS REFUELED WAS ABOUT 3.1 HRS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/18/1982
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1622
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City TORRANCE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport TORRANCE MUNICIPAL
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 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 2500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 70
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 865
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 N5910J
NTSB Number LAX82FUA15
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 150
Aircraft Series Identifier 150
Aircraft Serial Number A1500210
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
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 17
Airframe Hours 4500
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name G. R. BARKHORN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2946 FAIRCHILD
Aircraft Owner City APRON
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90505
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name G. R. BARKHORN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2946 FAIRCHILD
Operator City APRON
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code TOA
Departure City TORRANCE
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1520
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code TOA
Destination City TORRANCE
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --