Piper PA-28-180 accident near Torrance, California, March 31, 1988
On March 31, 1988 at about 10:33 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N6574J, was destroyed in an accident near Torrance, California (Torrance airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- March 31, 1988 · about 10:33 pm local time
- Place
- Torrance, California · Torrance · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N6574J · no longer on the register · serial 25-5028
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT NOTICED THAT THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR WAS INOPERATIVE. THE PLT NOTIFIED THE TOWER THAT HE WAS RETURNING FOR LANDING AND STATED THE PROBLEM. DURING THE TURN FROM BASE TO FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT OVERSHOT BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT RWYS. THE ACFT WAS LANDED TO THE LEFT AND SHORT OF THE RWYS WHERE, DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TWO PARKED VEHICLES. INSPECTION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS, HOWEVER, DUCT TAPE WAS FOUND WRAPPED AROUND THE PITOT VANE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT LOGBOOKS REVEALED A PITOT/STATIC TEST WAS ACCOMPLISHED JUST PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT. THE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED THE TEST STATED THAT HE DID NOT REMOVE THE TAPE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 565 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 5 in the last 30 days; 440 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 13, 1988; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TOA Torrance CA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: CPM Compton CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 29, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:33 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.