# NTSB LAX74AL013: Cessna 150L, N1783Q, Torrance, CA, August 12, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 12, 1973
- Place: Torrance, CA · TORRANCE, CA
- Location: 33.8305° N, 118.3566° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Torrance, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8305&lon=-118.3566&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 6, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188977
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX74AL013
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74AL013

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2859  73/8/12    TORRANCE,CALIF      CESSNA 172M         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1755                    N20265              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 42, 2310 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  2  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TORRANCE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TORRANCE,CALIF              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: INADEQUATE SPACING OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CONGESTED TRAFFIC-PATTERN
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - TOWER                               RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - BY LOCAL CONTROL               CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - CONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - YES                                  EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO
          ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- STRATUS CLOUD LAYER NEAR DEP END OF RWY.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2859  73/8/12    TORRANCE,CALIF      CESSNA 150L         CR-  2  0  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1755                    N1783Q              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 30, 1458 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  3  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TORRANCE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TORRANCE,CALIF              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: INADEQUATE SPACING OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CONGESTED TRAFFIC-PATTERN
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - TOWER                               RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - BY LOCAL CONTROL               CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - CONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - YES                                  EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO
          ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- C-150 DIDNT MAINTAIN VISUAL CTC WITH C-172.TWR CLRD C-150 FOR GO ARND WITH INADEQUATE SEPARATION.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N1783Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1783Q-1973-10-19), registration cancelled 1973-10-19, S/N 15073083 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Torrance

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N20265](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20265-1973-10-23), registration cancelled 1973-10-23, S/N 172-61141 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Torrance

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19730812029272A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730812029272A), Aug 12, 1973: Cessna A150K, Torrance, CA, Destroyed. C-150 didnt maintain visual ctc with C-172.twr clrd C-150 for go arnd with inadequate separation.
- [Accident 19730812029271A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730812029271A), Aug 12, 1973: Cessna 172D, Torrance, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Stratus cloud layer near dep end of rwy.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
