# Accident 20100618036319A: Luscombe 11A, Merced, CA, June 18, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 18, 2010, 18:30 local time
- Place: Merced, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.3833° N, 120.6500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3833&lon=-120.6500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1606B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1606B-2015-05-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Luscombe 11A (registry code 8890402, https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-11a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental E165 series (registry code 17013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e165-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 11A
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR E165 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 5,425 total, 37 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA306) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100618036319A

## Narrative

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

WHILE ENROUTE THE PILOT STATED HE FELT A "BAD VIBRATION FROM THE TAIL." THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO LOOK BACK THRU THE REAR WINDOWS AND WAS ABLE TO SEE THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB ON THE LEFT ELEVATOR OSCILLATING UP AND DOWN. HE REDUCED THE ENGINE POWER TO LESSEN THE VIBRATION AND NOTICE THE ELEVATOR YOKE WAS IN THE FULL BACK POSITION TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT.  THE PILOT DECIDED TO SEARCH FOR THE CLOSEST ALTERNATE AIRPORT USING THE GPS (GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) RECEIVER, WHEN PILOT NOTICED HIS GPS DISPLAY BLINKING AND ALSO NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. THE PILOT DECIDED TO MAKE AN OFF-FIELD AIRPORT, WHICH WAS A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE PILOT BEGAN TO ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE HIGHWAY. ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK A MOVING TRUCK. THE AIRPLANE THEN SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE LEFT WING STRUCK A FENCE POLE. THE AIRPLANE SPUN 180 DEGREES FROM ITS ORIGINAL DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT IN AN ADJACENT FIELD.  INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THE ELEVATOR ACTUATING HORN, TOP ATTACHING HARDWARE (BOLT, WASHER, NUT, AND SAFETY KEY) WERE MISSING.  ALSO, THE ELEVATOR TRIM ACTUATING HORN WAS SHEARED OFF FROM THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB.

## 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 WPR10LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA306), Jun 19, 2010: Luscombe 11A (N1606B), Merced, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain airplane control during cruise flight due to the failure of the elevator trim tab as a result of missing hardware for the elevator control cable bellcrank to…

## Other reports on N1606B (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20010518010009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010518010009A), May 18, 2001: Temco 11A (N1606B), Apple Valley, CA, Substantial damage. (.19)On may 18, 2001, at 1351 hours pacific daylight time, a Luscombe 11A, N1606B, sustained substantial damage when it made a forced landing near Apple…

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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