Cessna 152 accident near Torrance, California, May 19, 1983
On May 19, 1983 at about 6:34 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N48768, was substantially damaged in an accident near Torrance, California (Torrance Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- May 19, 1983 · about 6:34 pm local time
- Place
- Torrance, California · Torrance Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N48768 · registry record · serial 15283371
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL SUPERVISED SOLO FLT. THE PLT STARTED WITH DUAL INSTRUCTION TO INCLUDE TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. WHEN THE TOWER WAS ADVISED BY THE CFI OF HIS INTENTIONS TO SOLO HIS STUDENT THE TOWER REPLIED WITH A PRECAUTIONARY ANVISORY THAT AN ABNORMAL WIND SITUATION EXISTED AT THE ARPT. THE CFI SOLOED HIS STUDENT INSPITE OF THIS ADVISORY. THE PATTERN FLOWN BY THE STUDENT WAS NORMAL THROUGH TOUCHDOWN. JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT'. THE RUDDER PRODUCED NO CHANGE SO THE STUDENT APPLIED FULL POWER. GAINING MINIMAL ALT THE STUDENT REPORTED THAT THE TAIL FIRST CONTACTED THE GROUND FOLLOWED BY THE NOSE WITH THE ACFT FINALLY NOSING OVER. THERE WAS CONFUSION IN THE TOWERS CLEARANCE FOR THE STUDENT LANDING WHICH WENT FROM 'CLEARED FOR TOUCH AND GO' TO 'POSSIBILITY OF A GO-AROUND' TO 'MAKE THIS A FULL STOP UNTIL ADVISED' TO 'CLEARED FOR TOUCH AND GO'. THE VARIOUS WIND INDICATORS ON THE FIELD VARIED IN DIRECTION FROM NORTH TO EAST, SOUTH AND WEST. THE VELOCITIES VARIED FROM 5 TO 15 KTS.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 27 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,877 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1983; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29R, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:37 pm from TOA
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.
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.