Cessna 177 accident near Torrance, California, April 9, 1982
On April 9, 1982 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N30162, was destroyed in an accident near Torrance, California (Torrance Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 1982 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Torrance, California · Torrance Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N30162 · no longer on the register · serial 17701090
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE INITIAL FLIGHT FROM LOS ANGELES, CA, THE PILOT DRAINED A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER FROM THE FUEL TANKS. AFTER MAKING A BATTERY START, THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS DEPARTED ON A FLIGHT TO THE SANTA CATALINA AIRPORT WHERE THEY HAD LUNCH. FROM THERE, THEY FLEW TO TORRANCE, CA AND REFUELED WITH 27 GALLONS OF 80/87 OCTANE FUEL BEFORE RETURNING TO LOS ANGELES. DURING THE DEPARTURE FROM TORRANCE, THE PLANE WAS OBSERVED IN A SHALLOW CLIMB. DURING THE CLIMB, THE ENGINE WAS HEARD TO DECREASE IN POWER. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A STEEP BANK, THE BANK WAS SHALLOWED OUT, AND THEN A STEEP BANK WAS REENTERED. AFTER THAT, THE NOSE DROPPED, THE AIRCRAFT DOVE TOWARD THE GROUND, THEN CRASHED AND BURNED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AND A DISASSEMBLY OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS DATED 3/17/81. THE LAST ANNUAL OF THE ENGINE WAS DATED 2/22/80.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 152 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 61 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,602 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Airesearch Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: TOA Torrance CA at 12:38 pm
- Destination: LAX Los Angeles CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29R, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:45 pm from TOA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.