Luscombe 8A Safety Record

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control and his improper decision to begin a low-level maneuver at an altitude that was not sufficient for recovery before ground impact. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment from marijuana use.

Maintenance personnel’s improper installation of the No. 2 cylinder’s connecting rod, which resulted in the disconnection of the rod and a subsequent loss of engine power.

The pilot did not maintain airspeed following a loss of engine power during takeoff climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power due to the unlocked engine primer.

The certificated flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a turning maneuver, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with terrain. A factor was the loading of the airplane over maximum gross weight.

The pilot not maintaining aircraft control during the final turn, and the pilot's improper decision to fly the tight pattern to the closer runway. Factors relating to the accident were the pilot's inadequate distance/altitude in the traffic pattern and the stall.

failure of the pilot to see-and-avoid the transmission wires (inadequate visual lookout, and failing to maintain sufficient altitude and clearance from the obstruction).

THE FAILURE OF THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WHO REBUILT THE AIRCRAFT TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE WING LOWER LIFT STRUT ATTACHMENT BOLTS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF ANOTHER MAINTENANCE PERSON TO ADEQUATELY INSPECT THE AIRCRAFT FOR PROPERLY SECURED BOLTS.

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE MANEUVERING. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S MANEUVERING AT AN LOW ALTITUDE AND HIS LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN MAKE AND MODEL.

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS TURNED FROM BASE LEG TO FINAL APPROACH, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND UNCONTROLLED DESCENT TO THE GROUND.

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT IN A CONFINED MOUNTAIN PASS AREA WHICH WAS IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS; AND THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE ATTEMPTING A COURSE REVERSAL IN THE NARROW CONFINED CANYON.

PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE FOLLOWING ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION, RESULTING IN A STALL/SPIN. ADDITIONAL CAUSES WERE A CORRODED FUEL SYSTEM & CARBURETOR, IMPROPER MAINTENANCE/REBUILD, OPERATION WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN ACFT, & LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE BY THE PILOT.