- Date
- January 13, 1987, 07:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Pacoima, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N112DWCessna T210M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 24, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870113000339A
- Case key
- 25369
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During initial climb after takeoff the aircraft experienced a complete loss of power. The pilot attempted to return to the airport and collided with a large warehouse. The airframe was totally consumed in the post crash fire. Examination of the engine revealed the spark plugs were excessively worn with electrode gaps measured at greater than .025 inches. Maximum serviceable gap for the plugs is .021 inches, with the most desired gap range from .016 to .019. The maintenancerecords noted that the last time new plugs were installed was in November of 1982, 493 hours prior to the accident. The plugs were reconditioned in July of 1984, 392 hours prior to the accident. The plug manufacturer indicates that gaps in excess of .025 require excessive voltage to fire under cylinder temperature and pressure conditions at takeoff power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N112DW
- Reported as
- Cessna T210M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21061978
- Airframe hours
- 1,032
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520R, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Samuel D. Wright
- Registered owner
- Samuel D Wright
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 16, 1986 · 207 hours before
- Departed
- WHP
- Destination
- WJE · Lancaster, CA
- Airport
- WHP · Whitman Airpark, runway 12, 3,725 × 40 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,025 total · 98 in this make and model · 2,900 as pilot in command · 28 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BUR, 5 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.