# NTSB LAX82DAMS1: Wing D-1, N8601M, Catalina Island, CA, June 11, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: June 11, 1982, 00:00 local (07:00 UTC)
- Place: Catalina Island, CA
- Location: 33.4050° N, 118.4158° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of CATALINA (AVX), within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4050&lon=-118.4158&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70162
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82DAMS1
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70162/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DAMS1

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undetermined, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE FLT DEPARTED TORRANCE AT 1259 PDT & VFR CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME. WHEN THE FLT DID NOT RETURN A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. THE SEARCH WAS TERMINATED AFTER 4 DAYS. FRIENDS & RELATIVES SPECULATED THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A DUAL INSTRUCTION FLT IN PREPARATION FOR A MULTI-ENG RATING. A RADAR TRACK ANALYSIS PROGRAM DEPICTED THE PATH OF THE FLT DEPARTING TORRANCE, PERFORMING MANEUVERS & DISAPPEARING FROM RADAR ABOUT 6 MI EAST OF CATALINA ISLAND. ACFT DAMAGE & INJURIES ARE PRESUMED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8601M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8601M-2013-06-05), registration cancelled 2013-06-05, S/N 007, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WING D-1
- Registry model: [Wing D-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/wing-d-1) (registry code 9690302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 007
- Airframe hours: 132
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1C 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Alfred E. Austerman
- Registered owner: Alfred E. Austerman
- Departed: TOA, TORRANCE, CA
- Destination: TOA, TORRANCE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 20,000 total, 215 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Not reported

## FAA reports on this event (1)

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

- [Accident 19820611022639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820611022639A), Jun 11, 1982: Wing D1WING, Catalina Island, CA, Destroyed. Missing aircraft on a training flight was last seen on radar 6 miles east of Catalina Island.

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.

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