Luscombe L-8F N45627

Summary

On 26 April 1999 at about 21:32 local time, a Luscombe L-8F registered N45627 was involved in an accident near Kodiak, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 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

26 April 1999 at 21:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Kodiak, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

57.7909, -152.4007

Aircraft

Luscombe L-8F

Registration

N45627

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Zachar Bay → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC99LA050

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's inadequate terrain clearance during the initial climb, and the inadvertent stall/spin during the turn to avoid terrain. A factor in this accident was the pilot exceeding the allowable maximum gross weight of the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) he took off with the airplane at maximum gross weight. During the initial climb, he attempted to cross a ridge and realized the airplane was not gaining sufficient altitude to clear terrain. The pilot stated he turned the airplane toward the water in a steep bank. He indicated the airplane entered a spin, and dropped into the trees. He told the NTSB IIC the airplane was operating normally. No preaccident anomalies were found by the state troopers on scene, or by the NTSB metallurgy laboratory. The estimated weight of the airplane at the time of the accident was 1,484 pounds. The allowable takeoff weight was 1,375 pounds.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.