Luscombe 8C N37080

Summary

On 25 July 2009 at about 20:25 local time, a Luscombe 8C registered N37080 was involved in an accident near Mount Carmel, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 July 2009 at 20:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Mount Carmel, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Beckerman Field (5LLO)

Coordinates

38.4098, -87.7700

Aircraft

Luscombe 8C

Registration

N37080

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Henderson → Oshkosh

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09LA466

1 person died.

The reason for this accident was not determined.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight last departed from Henderson, Kentucky en route to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The pilot landed in Henderson to wait for the weather to improve. The pilot then departed but later returned due to rain showers and convective activity. Witnesses observed the airplane maneuvering at a low altitude when the engine began to "sputter" and then increase in engine sound prior to impacting a field in a nose-down, left-wing-down attitude. Postaccident examination of the carburetor revealed evidence of fuel contamination and that it had not undergone recent routine maintenance and inspection. No other mechanical anomalies were noted. Since the pilot's most recent application for airman medical certificate he had begun taking escitalopram, a prescription antidepressant, for symptoms of anxiety, irritability, and restlessness. The medication would be unlikely to result in impairment, but it cannot be determined if the symptoms for which it was being taken may have been related to the accident. Signatures from the wreckage confirmed that the engine was operating at impact. The investigation was unable to determine the reason for the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.