Cessna 182G accident near Torrance, California, April 12, 1993
On April 12, 1993, a Cessna 182G, registered N460JA, was destroyed in an accident near Torrance, California (Torrance Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT LIFT OFF AIRSPEED. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PILOTING SKILLS, AND THE INADVERTENT STALL OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 1993
- Place
- Torrance, California · Torrance Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182G · all 182Gs on the register
- Registration
- N460JA · no longer on the register · serial 18255829
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL HE GLANCED AT THE LIFT RESERVE INDICATOR WHICH INDICATED THAT HE HAD ENOUGH LIFT TO FLY. THE AIRPLANE IS MODIFIED WITH A WREN 460 STOL KIT. THE AIRSPEED OF THE AIRPLANE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35-40 KNOTS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A LEFT ROLLING MOTION. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION INITIATED BY THE PILOT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND, LEFT WING TIP FIRST AND CAME TO REST BETWEEN THE TWO RUNWAYS. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH FAA INSPECTORS, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE 'STALL WARNING HORN WAS GOING OFF AS USUAL,' BUT HE CHOSE TO 'IGNORE IT AS USUAL.' ACCORDING TO THE WREN OPERATIONS MANUAL FOR THE AIRCRAFT, THE NORMAL TAKEOFF SPEED IS 60 MPH, AND A CLIMB SPEED OF 90 MPH.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 269 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 5,473 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,928 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 13, 1992; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TOA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.