LAX82FA130

Factual narrative

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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12