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LAX89LA236

1989-07-07 · VENICE, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport SMO

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION AND INSPECTION OF THE CARBURETOR THROTTLE LINKAGE ARM.

Factual narrative

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND THE STUDENT PILOT WERE PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. JUST AFTER THE SECOND TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE POWER DROPPED TO IDLE. DESPITE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, THE ENGINE POWER WOULD NOT INCREASE AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. DURING THE DESCENT, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED WIRES AND A TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE THROTTLE ARM HAD FALLEN OFF THE CARBURETOR SHAFT. THE UNIT ALSO HAD NOT BEEN SAFETIED IN PLACE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_LAX89LA236.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

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