Cessna 150 accident near Torrance, California, January 11, 1993
On January 11, 1993 at about 11:46 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N6019T, 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
1) THE PILOT MISJUDGING THE AIRPLANE'S LANDING FLARE, AND 2) THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 11, 1993 · about 11:46 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 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N6019T · no longer on the register · serial 15060719
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE 'FOLLOWED A STANDARD APPROACH TECHNIQUE AND CAME TO A FLARE POINT ABOVE THE RUNWAY' AND ENCOUNTERED A 'SLIGHT CROSSWIND' AS THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL TOUCHED THE RUNWAY. HE ALSO STATED 'THE PLANE FLOATED A LITTLE AT FLARE, IT DIPPED AND CAUGHT ONE WHEEL.' THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY PITCHED FORWARD CAUSING THE NOSE WHEEL TO HIT THE GROUND. A GROUND WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT NOSED DOWN VERY HARD AND THE RIGHT WING SIMULTANEOUSLY CONTACTED THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT THEN 'VEERED HARD LEFT AND FLIPPED 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
- Flight time: 16 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,850 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 6, 1992; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cherry Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:46 pm from TOA, 1 miles away
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.