ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 194902
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| Date: | Tuesday 18 April 2017 |
| Time: | 18:40 |
| Type: |  Luscombe 8A |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N8554Y |
| MSN: | 2658 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1946 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2163 hours |
| Engine model: | Continental A65-8 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Hartford County, East Windsor, Warehouse Point, CT -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | East Windsor, CT (7B6) |
| East Windsor, CT (7B6) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The two private pilots were making a local flight in the airplane, which was equipped with dual flight controls. Both pilots were qualified to fly the airplane, and it could not be determined which pilot was manipulating the flight controls at the time of the accident. Following a flight of about 30 minutes duration, witnesses observed the airplane make a full stop landing, taxi back, and take off to the east. The engine sounded normal during the takeoff and initial climb. One witness then observed the airplane shaking, then tipping left and right, followed by an abrupt turn to the left. The nose of the airplane dropped, and the airplane descended rapidly to ground impact. The wreckage was found in a wooded area about 1/2 mile northeast of the airport in an inverted, nose-low attitude. An examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preexisting mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. Although the right fuel tank selector handle was installed backwards, the fuel valve was in the correct position for fuel to feed normally.
Toxicology testing of the left-seat pilot revealed the presence of diphenhydramine; however, the level detected was too low to quantify and was unlikely to be impairing.
Although the exact amount of fuel on board at the time of the accident could not be determined, estimates of the airplane's gross weight indicated that the airplane was between 54 lbs and 156 lbs over maximum gross weight. Based on the witness observation that the wings were rocking before the airplane abruptly turned left and then descended, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering aggressively, which resulted in exceedance of the critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.
Probable Cause: The flying pilot's excessive maneuvering of the airplane at a slow airspeed, which resulted in exceedance of the critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilots' operation of the airplane over its maximum allowable gross weight.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=8554Y
Location
Images:
Photo: NTSB
Media:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 19-Apr-2017 00:14 | Geno | Added |
| 19-Apr-2017 00:15 | Geno | Updated [Source] |
| 19-Apr-2017 03:52 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 19-Apr-2017 07:23 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code] |
| 19-Apr-2017 15:30 | Geno | Updated [Registration, Cn, Operator, Source] |
| 19-Apr-2017 18:19 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Nature, Narrative] |
| 21-Apr-2017 11:01 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Time, Nature, Source, Embed code] |
| 22-Apr-2017 17:40 | Anon. | Updated [Embed code, Damage] |
| 24-Apr-2017 15:12 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Source] |
| 16-May-2018 15:37 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Damage, Narrative] |
| 16-May-2018 17:40 | harro | Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative, Photo, ] |
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