Piper PA-28-181 accident near Torrance, California, March 27, 1988
On March 27, 1988 at about 1:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N26022, was substantially damaged in an accident near Torrance, California (Torrance Muni. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT WHEN ENTERING CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 1988 · about 1:55 pm local time
- Place
- Torrance, California · Torrance Muni. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N26022 · no longer on the register · serial 288690004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER COMPLETING THE PRE-TAKEOFF ENGINE CHECKS, WHICH INCLUDED AN OPERATIONAL CHECK OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT, THE PILOT TOOKOFF INTO WEATHER THAT WAS CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING. AS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. THE PILOT SAID HE FAILED TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT AND THE ENGINE FAILED. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED INTO A FORCED LANDING AND COLLIDED WITH TREES BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE TEMP WAS 60 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND THE DEW POINT WAS 54 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
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: 200 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 119 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,196 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Peninsula Aviation Company
The flight
- Departed from: TOR Torrance CA at 1:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29L, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 28,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from LAX, 9 miles away
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.