Luscombe 8A N71756

Summary

On 24 September 1989 at about 06:00 local time, a Luscombe 8A registered N71756, operated by Reeves, Edwin L., was involved in an accident near MacKay, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 September 1989 at 06:00

Classification

Accident

Location

MacKay, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

43.9505, -113.8400

Aircraft

Luscombe 8A

Registration

N71756

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Reeves, Edwin L.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Idaho Falls → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA89LA179

2 people died.

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED FOR FLIGHT. HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS A FACTOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING A LOCAL FLIGHT FOR THE PURPOSE OF SPOTTING ANTELOPE FOR A FUTURE HUNTING TRIP, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND AT THE BASE OF ONE TREE THAT INDICATED EVIDENCE OF AT LEAST TWO PROPELLER STRIKES. THE NOSE OF THE PLANE WAS BURIED APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET INTO THE GROUND WITH THE TAIL SECTION ELEVATED FIVE FEET ABOVE THE TERRAIN. AS DETERMINED FROM TREE STRIKES AND THE DAMAGE TO THE LEADING EDGE WING AREA, THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. ACCIDENT SITE 8,300 FT MSL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.