Amateur-built W-8 accident near San Pedro, California, January 31, 2004
On January 31, 2004 at about 5:45 pm local time, a amateur-built W-8, registered N192S, was destroyed in an accident near San Pedro, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's incapacitation during descent, which resulted in a loss of control and an in-flight collision with water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 2004 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- San Pedro, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built W-8 · all W-8s on the register
- Registration
- N192S · registry record · serial 001-WS
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after departure, the airplane started a shallow descent over the ocean, which continued until it impacted the water. The autopsy revealed that the pilot had severe atherosclerotic heart disease and several stents implanted, as well as an internal defibrillator. The pilot's personal medical records revealed that he had a past medical history of "hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, obesity, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease, prostrate carcinoma, radiation colitis, a possible cerebrovascular accident, and mild dementia of Alzheimer's type." Post-accident toxicology testing revealed the presence of prescription medications for dementia and for heartburn. Six months prior to the accident the pilot reported that he did not have a notable medical history and that he was not taking prescription medication. After examining the internal defibrillator, a cardiologist stated that he could find no evidence of an arrhythmic death, nor any relation to the implanted defibrillator. Investigators observed no evidence of premishap mechanical malfunctions during the examination of the engine or airframe.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 29,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 23, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-G4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPM Compton CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 036° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from LGB, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX04LA110.