Incident Overview
According to the pilot, before initiating a planned round-robin flight, he experienced a left magneto problem during the engine run-up procedure at Whiteman Airport in Los Angeles. He stated that he "cleared the problem during the run-up" and his takeoff from Whiteman was normal. No evidence of any engine problem was encountered during the flight to Torrance, where the pilot landed without incident.
Sequence of Events
During the subsequent departure from Torrance, the pilot reported to the local air traffic controller that he would like to turn around and land in the opposite direction to the departure runway, broadcasting that he had "...got a little engine trouble here." The pilot reported that during the climb to about 700 feet above ground level, only partial engine power was attained. The controller cleared the pilot to land on any runway and provided the local wind condition. The pilot reversed course.
With a 10-knot tailwind, the pilot misjudged his downwind approach and landing on the mile-long runway. He opined that he touched down too long to decelerate on the remaining available runway, so he applied engine power to take off again. With extended wing flaps, the airplane became airborne. The pilot lost control of the airplane while he again reversed course to return to the airport. The airplane's stall warning horn activated, and the airplane buffeted and crashed while in an uncontrolled descent.
Engine Examination and Weather
During the subsequent engine examination, no evidence of any mechanical malfunction was found. At the time of the accident, the Torrance airport METAR reported a temperature of 26 degrees Celsius and dew point 21 degrees. With reference to a carburetor icing probability chart, the temperature and dew point fall into an area of the chart labeled "moderate icing in cruise power or serious icing at glide power."
Conclusion
The pilot stalled the airplane during climb out from an aborted precautionary landing after a partial loss of power, and the airplane descended until impacting power lines, trees, and the ground.