Cessna 182L accident near Santa Monica, California, May 17, 1987
On May 17, 1987 at about 9:43 pm local time, a Cessna 182L, registered N42814, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Monica, California (Santa Monica airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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 17, 1987 · about 9:43 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Monica, California · Santa Monica · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182L · all 182Ls on the register
- Registration
- N42814 · no longer on the register · serial 18259201
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LOST POWER DURING INITIAL CLIMB AND CRASHED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET DURING AN ATTEMPTED FORCED LANDING. THE THROTTLE ARM WAS FOUND SEPARATED FROM THE THROTTLE SHAFT. THE ARM HAD BEEN REPLACED 19 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR REVEALED THAT THE SHAFT BUSHING WAS WORN AND LOOSE AND THAT THE JAWS OF THE NEW ARM WERE CLOSED COMPLETELY BUT PRODUCING NO CLAMPING ACTION. SUBSEQUENT TESTS OF THE ARM AND SHAFT REVEALED THAT THE ARM WOULD SLIP EASILY ON AND OFF THE SHAFT. TESTS ALSO ESTABLISHED THAT THE RECOMMENDED METHOD OF SAFETY WIRING THE ARM TO THE SHAFT DID NOT RETAIN THE ARM ON THE SHAFT. THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY DID NOT PERFORM THE FINAL INSPECTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR OWN FAA APPROVED REPAIR STATION MANUAL. THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY HAD RECOMMENDED A MAJOR CARBURETOR OVERHAUL TO THE PLT/OWNER BUT HE REFUSED BECAUSE OF THE QUOTED PRICE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 504 hours in all; 408 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 471 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,645 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 1986; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMD at 9:39 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,987 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:46 pm from SMO, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.