# Accident 19991225044109A: Luscom 8E, San Luis, CO, December 25, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 25, 1999, 18:00 local time
- Place: San Luis, CO
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.2007° N, 105.4196° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2007&lon=-105.4196&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1941B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1941B-2003-06-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Luscombe 8E (registry code 8190112, https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C90 series (registry code 17009, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOM 8E
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN00LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA031) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991225044109A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23)ON DECEMBER 25, 1999, AT APPROX. 1800 MST, A LUSCOMBE 8E, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED FOLLOWING IMPACT WITH TERRAIN NEAR SAN LUIS, COLORADO. THE PRIVATE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT IN THE AIRPLANE, WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WHICH ORIGINATED FROM LEADVILLE, COLORADO, APPROX. 1 HOUR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE SHERIFF OF COSTILLA COUNTY, COLORADO, REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS LOCATED IN WHISKEY PASS, APPROX. 12 NM DUE EAST OF SAN LUIS, AT 12,400 FEET. HE SAID THAT RESCUE TEAMS LOCATED THE AIRPLANE THE FOLLOWING DAY AT APPROX. 1300, AND THE PILOT WAS RECOVERED ON A SNOWMOBILE. THE PILOT WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH A BROKEN VERTEVRA. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A "DOWN DRAFT". WINDS REPORTED AT RESCUE SITE AT 45 TO 55 KNOTS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DEN00LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA031), Dec 25, 1999: Luscombe 8E (N1941B), San Luis, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision, and the subsequent inadvertent stall/mush. Factors were the pilot's lack of total experience in mountain flying, the high density altitude, and downdraft…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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