Whiteman Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pacoima, California 91331
Friday, July 14, 2006 15:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane nosed over during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power in the takeoff initial climb. The student and certified flight instructor (CFI) departed on runway 14 for pattern work, and made a full stop landing. They taxied back, and took off again. About 150 feet above ground level (agl), the engine lost a little power. They turned back toward the airport. During the turn the engine lost more power, and the airplane could not maintain altitude. The CFI took control, and elected to land in a dry pond. The airplane touched down good, but the nose wheel dug into the soft dirt, and the airplane nosed over. Examination revealed that none of the ignition leads were connected to the top spark plugs. The number 3 cylinder top plug was missing with oil on the upper cowling above the hole, and the top spark plugs for the remaining cylinders were loose, with most only engaged by one or two threads. Two hours prior to the accident flight, a mechanic performed work, including installation of a new left magneto and new spark plugs.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a loss of engine power due to the failure of maintenance personnel to tighten the top spark plugs, and install the leads for the ignition harness to the top spark plugs.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/14/2006
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Pacoima
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91331
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 341534N
Event Location Longitude 1182449W
Event Location Airport Whiteman
Event Location Nearest Airport ID WHP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.75
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1003
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID BUR
Elevation of weather observation facility 778
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 37
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.86
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22389
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 14 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2007 8:02AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Federal Aviation Administration

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N25512
NTSB Number LAX06LA230
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 152
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15280706
Certified Max Gross Weight 1625
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Jan 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 598
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HOLMES BO
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Mineola
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75773
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Natividad Flores
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Los Angeles
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 90008
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code WHP
Departure City Los Angeles
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1450
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code WHP
Destination City Los Angeles
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 4 2007 5:48PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 4120
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --