Pilot Debrief

LUSCOMBE 8A near Rexberg, ID — 2017-06-03

Final reportWPR17LA122
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Date
2017-06-03
Location
Rexberg, ID, USA
Airport
RXE
Aircraft
LUSCOMBE 8A
Registration
N1627K
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information which resulted in a landing short of the runway.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was returning from a local flight when, on final approach for landing, he applied throttle with no response from the engine. The airplane landed in a field short of the runway, colliding with bushes and a fence before coming to rest in a river. After removal from the river, the airplane was subsequently flipped over by gusty winds and remained inverted for 5 days before the postaccident examination, which revealed no fuel in the wing tanks or gascolator. The amount of fuel onboard the airplane at the time of the accident and whether fuel drained from the airplane during the time it was inverted could not be determined. No other anomalies were observed that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Based on the available information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked fuel levels before departure to ensure adequate fuel for flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents3

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