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Atlas / NTSB / LAX89LA162

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event LAX89LA162

1989-04-16 SANTA PAULA, California, United States Airport · SZP None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N84745

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CHAMPION AERONCA 7AC

Year of manufacture

1946 · 43 years old at event

Engine

CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES (65 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19560614

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S AB9CDC

Registrant of record

MILLER WILLIAM ALAN

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOTS IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT IN CONDITIONS THAT WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.

Factual narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY LANDING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE HIGH VEGETATION DAMAGING THE RIGHT WING, LANDING GEAR, AND FUSELAGE. THE ENGINE WAS TORN DOWN AND INSPECTED. NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE TEMPERATURE 60 DEGS, DEWPOINT 40 DEGS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_LAX89LA162.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.