# Accident 20240612010849A: Luscombe 8A, Markleeville, CA, June 12, 2024 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: June 12, 2024, 15:25 local time - Place: Markleeville, CA - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 38.8911° N, 119.9667° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8911&lon=-119.9667&mi=10 - Aircraft: N37081, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N37081) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Luscombe 8A (registry code 8190104, https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8A - Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 2 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 1,274 total, 652 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24FA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA195) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240612010849A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT A DOWNED AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED IN THE WOODS APPROXIMATELY SIX (6) MILES SOUTHEAST OF LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT (TVL). THERE WERE TWO (2) FATALITIES. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE. THE SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED AFTER AN ALERT NOTIFICATION (ALNOT) WAS ISSUED FOR A MISSING FLIGHT. LAW ENFORCEMENT STATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED VIA THE EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER (ELT). UPON ARRIVAL AT THE CRASH SIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED INVERTED FACING NORTH, NORTHEAST WITH THE EMPENNAGE MISSING. THE RIGHT WING WAS SEVERED, EXCEPT FOR THE AILERON CABLES WHICH WERE STILL CONNECTED TO THE AILERONS, AS WELL AS THE CONTROL YOKE. THE RIGHT WING STRUT WAS DAMAGED, WITH THE UPPER THIRD SHEERED FROM THE STRUT. A LARGE IMPACT SCAR WITH TREE RESIDUE WAS OBSERVED ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE RIGHT WING AT THE LOCATION OF THE WING STRUT ATTACH POINT. THERE WAS ALSO IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE RIGHT WING AILERON, WITH TREE RESIDUE. THE WING FUEL TANK WAS NOT RUPTURED AND 100LL FUEL WAS OBSERVED IN THE TANK. THE LEFT WING WAS ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT, WITH BENDING DAMAGE TO THE TIP AND THE WING STRUT. THE RIGHT SIDE FUSELAGE RIVET SEAM WAS SHEERED FROM THE BELLY TO THE TOP OF THE FUSELAGE WITH SEVER CRUMPLING OF THE LEFT SIDE FUSELAGE. THE EMPENNAGE WAS LOCATED, LODGED APPROXIMATELY TWENTY (20) FEET UP IN A TREE, APPROXIMATELY TWENTY-FIVE (25) FEET NORTHWEST OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE. TREE FRAGMENTS WERE FOUND AROUND THE AREA THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BY US FOREST SERVICE AS A SPECIES NOT IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE CRASH SITE. THE CLOSEST WAS A DEAD TREE APPROXIMATELY ONE HUNDRED (100) YARDS TO THE WEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, WHICH APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN STRUCK AT THE TOP. FLIGHT AND ENGINE CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS CONFIRMED. THE FUEL SHUTOFF WAS OBSERVED IN THE "OFF" POSITION. WRECKAGE WAS RECOVERED AND MOVED TO PLAIN PARTS IN PLEASANT GROVE, CA. ASSISTED NTSB INVESTIGATOR WITH WRECKAGE INSPECTION AND ENGINE TEARDOWN AT PLAIN PARTS IN PLEASANT GROVE, CA TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2024. THE RECOVERY PERSONNEL STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 10 GALLONS OF 100LL FUEL WAS RECOVERED FROM THE RIGHT WING TANK. FUSELAGE/HEADER TANK WAS RUPTURED ON IMPACT AND NO FUEL WAS RECOVERED. THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT A FUEL ODOR WAS PRESENT ON THE GROUND UNDER THE FUSELAGE/HEADER TANK. FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE GASCOLATOR WHICH HAD DISCOLORATION. ALL FUEL WAS TESTED FOR WATER AND NO WATER WAS PRESENT. CARBURETOR WAS REMOVED AND DISASSEMBLED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF MALFUNCTION. ALL CYLINDERS WERE CONFIRMED TO HAVE COMPRESSION. ALL SPARK PLUGS APPEARED SATISFACTORY. BOTH MAGNETOS WERE TESTED.BOTH MAGNETOS PRODUCED SPARKS ON ALL DITRIBUTOR LEADS. NO INDICATIONS OF ENGINE MALFUNCTION WERE NOTED. ## 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 WPR24FA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA195), Jun 12, 2024: Luscombe 8A (N37081), South Lake Tahoe, CA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue low-altitude flight toward rising mountainous terrain in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in collision with trees and terrain. ## Other reports on N37081 (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20231018018679I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231018018679I), Oct 18, 2023: Luscombe 8A (N37081), South Lake Taho, CA, No damage. Pilot departed hollister, CA (light sport aircraft) with a final destination of South Lake Tahoe Airport (ktvl). Pilot was unable to hear weather reporting on… - [Accident 19810525028989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810525028989A), May 25, 1981: Luscom 8A (N37081), Paskenta, CA, Substantial damage. Landed downwind in farm meadow unable to stop. Struck a fence and rocks before stopping. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.