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LAX89LA162

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

Airport SZP

Current FAA registration · N84745

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

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 ↗.

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