# Accident 20140718013859A: Luscombe 8A, Rancho Cucamong, CA, July 18, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 18, 2014, 18:16 local time
- Place: Rancho Cucamong, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1639° N, 117.5764° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1639&lon=-117.5764&mi=10
- Aircraft: N77942, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N77942) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Luscombe 8A (registry code 8190104, https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8A
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14LA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA300) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140718013859A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 18, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 18:16 HOURS PDT THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF?S DEPARTMENT (DBA RANCHO CUCAMONGA POLICE DEPARTMENT) CONTACTED THE FAA OPERATIONS CENTER VIA TELEPHONE AND REPORTED A SINGLE ENGINE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA IN ON OPEN GRADED DIRT FIELD UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES.  THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF?S DEPARTMENT REPORTED THE PILOT, THE SINGLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT, WAS ASSISTED OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND WAS TRANSFERRED TO ARROWHEAD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER IN COLTON, CALIFORNIA WITH SERIOUS INJURIES.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

ON JULY 18, 2014, ABOUT 1810 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A LUSCUMBE 8 A, N77942, COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING AN OFF AIRPORT FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING CRUISE FLIGHT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM CABLE AIRPORT (CCB) UPLAND, CALIFORNIA. THE PILOT/OWNER WAS OPERATING THE AIRPLANE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91. THE PRIVATE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES; THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FROM IMPACT FORCES. THE PERSONAL / PLEASURE FLIGHT DEPARTED CABLE AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 18:00 HOURS FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT RETURNING TO CABLE AIRPORT, UPLAND, CALIFORNIA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED.

WITNESSES STATED THEY OBSERVED THE LUSCOMBE (N77942) IN CRUISE FLIGHT NEAR THE AREA OF HAVEN AVENUE AND ALMOND AVENUE IN RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, THE LUSCOMBE?S ENGINE QUIT, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.  WITNESSES STATED THEY OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE?S PROPELLER WAS STOPPED IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE AN UNSCHEDULED LANDING IN A GRADED DIRT LOT IN THE 10800 BLOCK OF ALMOND AVENUE, IN RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA .  THE PILOT AVOIDED HOMES AND POWER LINES AS HE TURNED TOWARD THE OPEN FIELD. THE AIRPLANE HIT THE GROUND HARD, AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED. FUEL LEAKED FROM BOTH WINGS OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED AT THE REQUEST OF THE NTSB ON JULY 19, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 08:30 HOURS LOCAL TIME AND TRANSPORTED TO PHOENIX, ARIZONA.  THE NTSB PLANS TO COMPLETE AN ENGINE TEARDOWN AT AN UNSCHEDULED TIME TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS REPORTED DURING THE FLIGHT.  THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND IS STILL IN THE HOSPITAL.  A PILOT INTERVIEW IS PLANNED BUT CANNOT BE COMPLETED DUE TO HIS MEDICAL CONDITION AT THIS TIME.

## 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 WPR14LA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA300), Jul 19, 2014: Luscombe 8A (N77942), Rancho Cucamonga, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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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