Wheeler Acft. Co. EXPRESS 100 accident near W. Los Angeles, California, October 27, 1989
On October 27, 1989, a Wheeler Acft. Co. EXPRESS 100, registered N200EX, was destroyed in an accident near W. Los Angeles, California (Santa Monica airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DUE TO THE WEARING AWAY OF THE PISTON PIN PLUG, CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS, AND THE BREAKAGE OF THE CONNECTING ROD AT THE LOWER END. CONTRIBUTING TO THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FORCED LANDING INTO A RESIDENTIAL AREA AS THE ONLY LANDING SITE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1989
- Place
- W. Los Angeles, California · Santa Monica · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wheeler Acft. Co. EXPRESS 100 EXPRESS 10
- Registration
- N200EX · no longer on the register · serial 100
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE ON THE AIRCRAFT FAILED DURING CRUISE FLIGHT ABOUT 10 MILES EAST OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND HIS GLIDE AND WAS FORCED TO LAND INTO A RESIDENTIAL AREA COLLIDING WITH SEVERAL HOMES. THE PISTON PIN PLUG IN ONE CYLINDER HAD WORN AWAY DAMAGING THE PISTON. THE CONNECTING RODS HAD THEIR BEARINGS WORN AWAY AND ONE CONNECTING ROD WAS FOUND BROKEN AT THE LOWER END.
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
- Flight time: 1,094 hours in all; 658 in this make and model; 276 in the last 90 days; 73 in the last 30 days; 1,004 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,005 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 16, 1989; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1D6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Destination: EMT El Monte CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 4,980 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.