LAX87LA091

Factual narrative

A CESSNA 152 COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 140 FT TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY EDGE WHILE ON A NIGHT APCH. THE RWY SAFETY AREA AT THE APRT EXTENDS 60 FT FROM THE RWY CENTERLINE. THE PIC INDICATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO ACTIVATE THE LOW INTENSITY RWY LIGHTS AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS AND THAT THE APRT'S ROTATING BEACON WAS INOPERATIVE. THE PIC ALSO STATED THAT THE PRIVATE PLT PASSENGER WAS MANIPULATING THE CONTROLS AT THE TIME AND HE ALIGNED THE ACFT ON WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE RWY. THE PLT CONTROLLED APRT LIGHTING SYSTEM WAS OPERATED 10 HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WITH NO NOTED DEFICIENCIES. SUBSEQUENT TESTING ALSO REVEALED NO DEFICIENCIES. THE ACFT RADIOS WERE UNABLE TO BE TESTED BECAUSE THEY WERE DESTROYED IN THE POST CRASH FIRE. THE APRT'S ROTATING BEACON WAS REPORTED OUT OF SERVICE AND WAS PUBLISHED IN THE NOTAMS. ANOTHER APRT WAS LOCATED 6 NM NORTH OF THE APRT IS EQUIPPED WITH HIRL AND MIRL ON EITHER OF ITS TWO RWYS WHICH OPERATE CONTINUALLY. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12