Cessna 152 accident near Torrance, California, October 3, 1986
On October 3, 1986 at about 8:23 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N24285, was substantially damaged in an accident near Torrance, California (Torrance 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
- October 3, 1986 · about 8:23 pm local time
- Place
- Torrance, California · Torrance · 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
- N24285 · registry record · serial 15280194
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 152 WENT OUT OF CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF GROUND RUN AND THEN COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK AND NOSED OVER. THE STUDENT PLT INDICATED THAT HE WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE HAD JUST APPLIED TAKEOFF POWER AFTER LANDING AND THE ACFT BEGAN TO VEER TO THE LEFT. THE ACFT DEPARTED THE RWY AND STRUCK A DIRT BANK APPROXIMATELY 50 FT FROM THE RWY EDGE. THE ACFT THEN NOSED OVER IN A FRESHLY PLOWED FIELD ADJACENT TO THE RWY. THE STUDENT PLT ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. EXAM OF THE AREA IN WHICH THE ACFT DEPARTED THE RWY REVEAL A DEEPLY WORN DIRT ROAD PARALLEL TO THE RWY WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE RUNWAY SAFETY AREA. ACCORDING TO ADVISORY CIRCULAR (AC) 150-5300-4B, THE RUNWAY SAFETY AREA SHOULD BE GRADED AND ACCOMMODATE THE OCCASIONAL PASSAGE OF ACFT WITHOUT CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ACFT.
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
- Flight time: 16 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,398 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 7, 1986; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TOA Torrance CA at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11L, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:26 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.