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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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May 18, 1982 · Cessna 150 · N5910J

Torrance, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 18, 1982
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Torrance, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 150
Tail Number
N5910J
Operator
G R Barkhorn
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX82FUA15

The purpose of the flight was to provide instrument training to a non-instrument rated pilot. The aircrew estimated that there was 10 gallons of fuel on board when they took off. About 1 hour later, the engine lost power as the aircrew were entering the traffic pattern to land. Reportedly, the right fuel gauge indicated empty, but the left gauge indicated about 1/4 full. The instructor pilot took control of the aircraft, but was unable to restart the engine or glide to the airport. A forced landing was made in a field of potted trees at a nursery. During touchdown, the landing gear struck a number of 5 gallon cans in which the trees were potted and the aircraft nosed over. Less than 1/2 cup of fuel was found in the fuel tanks after the accident. The aircraft had been flown 2.1 hours on the previous flight. The aircrew estimated that the plane would fly 3.3 to 3.5 hours without refueling. The total time since the plane was refueled was about 3.1 hours.

Full Narrative

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO PROVIDE INSTRUMENT TRAINING TO A NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT. THE AIRCREW ESTIMATED THAT THERE WAS 10 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD WHEN THEY TOOK OFF. ABOUT 1 HR LATER, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AS THE AIRCREW WERE ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO LAND. REPORTEDLY, THE RIGHT FUEL GAUGE INDICATED EMPTY, BUT THE LEFT GAUGE INDICATED ABOUT 1/4 FULL. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE OR GLIDE TO THE AIRPORT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD OF POTTED TREES AT A NURSERY. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK A NUMBER OF 5 GALLON CANS IN WHICH THE TREES WERE POTTED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. LESS THAN 1/2 CUP OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLOWN 2.1 HRS ON THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT. THE AIRCREW ESTIMATED THAT THE PLANE WOULD FLY 3.3 TO 3.5 HRS WITHOUT REFUELING. THE TOTAL TIME SINCE THE PLANE WAS REFUELED WAS ABOUT 3.1 HRS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:22 PDT
Nearest AirportTorrance Municipal (0nm N)
Runway29
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150
Tail NumberN5910J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorG R Barkhorn
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200 · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 55 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 5 kt
Visibility8 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point16 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data