Luscombe 8A Safety Record

The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat for takeoff, which resulted in an interruption of continuous fuel flow to the engine and a loss of engine power during climb. Also causal was the lack of required placarding warning of the need to use full carburetor heat on takeoff and landing.

The loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

The loss of engine power due to fatigue fracture of the number two cylinder exhaust valve during initial climb after takeoff. A contributing factor was the unsuitable terrain (cornfield) encountered during the forced landing.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain while attempting to fly a non-IFR equipped aircraft solely by reference to its instruments after the aircraft's windshield became coated with freezing rain in cruise flight. A factor was the pilot's improper inflight decision to continue VFR flight in an area where rain showers where taking place while ambient temperatures where indicated to be within one degree of freezing. Additional factors include freezing rain, an iced-over windshield, and tree-covered rising terrain.

THE FAILURE OF THE PERSON REMOVING THE CHOCK TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE FROM THE PROPELLER. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE BY PERSON ON GROUND.