Luscombe 8E N1806K

Summary

On 18 October 2003 at about 22:30 local time, a Luscombe 8E registered N1806K was involved in an accident near Spanaway, Washington, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 2 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

18 October 2003 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Spanaway, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Spanaway (S44)

Coordinates

47.0867, -122.4175

Aircraft

Luscombe 8E

Registration

N1806K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Spanaway → Spanaway

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA04LA008

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude resulting in an undershoot of the runway and collision with a fence. A fence was a factor in the accident.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing approach, just before touchdown, the airplane's tail wheel caught the top of the chain link fence that runs perpendicular to runway 16. He stated that the airplane consequently impacted terrain and nosed over. The pilot stated that he might have been a little low while on final approach. Additionally, the pilot reported that he encountered turbulence, downdrafts and wind shear while on final approach to the runway. At the time of the accident, winds were reported to be from the south at 12 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.