Cessna 152 accident near Torrance, California, September 11, 1989
On September 11, 1989 at about 8:14 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N95554, was substantially damaged in an accident near Torrance, California (Torrance Muni 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLL-OUT, WHICH RESULTED A GROUND SWERVE. THE PILOT'S RELATIVELY LOW LEVEL OF FLYING EXPERIENCE AND THE BERM BESIDE THE RUNWAY WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 1989 · about 8:14 pm local time
- Place
- Torrance, California · Torrance Muni · 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
- N95554 · no longer on the register · serial 152859921
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PRACTICING TOUCH-&-GO LANDINGS, THE 35 HR STUDENT PLT LANDED ON THE 150 FT WIDE RWY. DURING ROLL-OUT, HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AS THE ACFT VEERED TOWARD THE EDGE OF THE RWY. THE STUDENT STATED HE FEARED THAT BY CORRECTING THE GROUND TRACK OF THE ACFT, IT WOULD 'TUMBLE.' THE ACFT ROLLED OFF THE RWY, COLLIDED WITH A 1.5 FT HIGH DIRT BERM & NOSED OVER.
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: 35 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11L, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:17 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.