Luscombe 8A N2009B

Summary

On 29 May 2015 at about 17:00 local time, a Luscombe 8A registered N2009B was involved in an accident near Churchville, Maryland, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 May 2015 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Churchville, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Harford County (0W3)

Coordinates

39.5628, -76.2050

Aircraft

Luscombe 8A

Registration

N2009B

Category

Airplane

Year built

1948

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Churchville → Churchville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15LA228

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper reduction of the fuel mixture while the airplane was descending on the final leg of the traffic pattern, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and subsequent aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the commercial pilot, while the airplane was descending on the final leg of the traffic pattern after the personal flight, he reduced the fuel mixture, and the engine then lost total power. The pilot was unable to regain engine power, and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and subsequently impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, vertical stabilizer, and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The Engine Operator's Manual stated that the mixture must be in the "full rich" position during the descent. It is likely that the pilot's reduction of the fuel mixture during the descent resulted in the loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.