Pilot Debrief

LUSCOMBE 8A near South Lake Tahoe, CA — 2024-06-12

Final reportWPR24FA195
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Date
2024-06-12
Location
South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Airport
TVL
Aircraft
LUSCOMBE 8A
Registration
N37081
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2

Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to continue low-altitude flight toward rising mountainous terrain in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in collision with trees and terrain.

NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger were conducting a cross-country flight in the 65-horsepower, tailwheel equipped airplane to an airport located in mountainous terrain. In-flight photos taken by the passenger showed the airplane at low altitude over the mountains, heading toward higher terrain, about 1/2 mile from the accident site. Accident site signatures were consistent with a collision with trees and subsequent impact with terrain. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The calculated density altitude at the accident site was about 11,329 ft. Review of the Koch chart using the estimated conditions present at the accident site showed about an 80% decrease in the airplane’s published climb performance under these conditions, which would have resulted in a rate of climb of about 150 ft per minute. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s decision to conduct low-altitude flight into mountainous terrain under density altitude conditions that significantly degraded the airplane’s performance, which resulted in impact with trees and terrain.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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