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LAX90LA243

1990-07-03 · FULLERTON, California, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport FUL

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO DETECT AN INCORRECT RUDDER TRIM ADJUSTMENT, HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PRESCRIBED PRE-TAKEOFF INSTRUCTIONS THAT CALL FOR THE TRIM TO BE ADJUSTED. THE COLLISION WITH THE FENCE AND THE INCORRECT RUDDER TRIM ADJUSTMENT WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Factual narrative

AFTER CONDUCTION HIS WALK AROUND PREFLIGHT CHECK, THE PILOT AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS ENPLANED FOR A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT. THE RUDDER TRIM WAS TRIMMED TO A LEFT 22 DEGREE POSITION. THE AIRCRAFT ACCELERATED TO 95 MPH AND AS THE PILOT APPLIED BACK CONTROL PRESSURE FOR LIFT OFF HE FELT A LOSS OF POWER AND ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE TAKE OFF. THE AIRCAFT CONTINUED THE GROUND ROLL UNTIL IT IMPACTED A FENCE AND CAREENED ACROSS A STREET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP IN AN UPRIGHT ATTITUDE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1990_LAX90LA243.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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