# NTSB ATL00LA094: Luscombe 8A, N2234K, Homosassa, FL, September 30, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 2000, 09:50 local (13:50 UTC) - Place: Homosassa, FL - Coordinates: 28.779222, -82.610794 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7792&lon=-82.6108&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51041 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51041/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA094 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions and subsequently exhausting his fuel supply. Factors were his failure to obtain a weather briefing, the weather conditions which included clouds and obscuration, the residence and the tree. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor) - weather forecast - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - residence (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot departed the airport en route to another airport located 24.5 miles to the south/southeast to have an annual maintenance inspection performed on the airplane. Prior to departure, he did not receive a weather briefing. The pilot stated that upon arrival at his destination airport, low clouds and an overcast fog layer had developed. He circled the area looking for better ground visibility and none was found. An attempt was made to return to the departure airport for landing. While maneuvering to maintain visual conditions for the landing, the engine lost power due to fuel starvation, and attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. Unable to reach the airport, the pilot made an off airport landing between a house and a tree. Upon impact with the ground, the airplane nosed over. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 2000, about 0950 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8A, N2234K, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with a house during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Homosassa, Florida. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, sustained minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Crystal River Airport, Crystal River, Florida, at 0800, with a planned destination of Hernando County Airport, Brooksville, Florida. According to the pilot, he departed Crystal River en route to Brooksville, located 24.5 miles south/southeast, for the purpose of having an annual maintenance inspection performed on the airplane. He stated that prior to departure, he did not receive a weather briefing. Upon arrival at Brooksville, low clouds and an overcast fog layer had developed. The pilot said he circled the area several times looking for better ground visibility and none was found. An attempt was made to return to Crystal River Airport for landing. While maneuvering to maintain visual conditions for the landing, the engine lost power. Several attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. Unable to reach the airport, he attempted an off-airport forced landing between a house and a tree. While maneuvering for the landing, the left wing collided with the house and the right wing collided with a tree. After the collision, the airplane nosed over. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, and he attributed "fuel starvation" for the loss of engine power. During the examination of the airplane at the accident site, no fuel was found in the fuel system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2234K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2234K), registered now, S/N 4961, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8A - Registry model: [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4961 - Airframe hours: 876 - Engines: Continental A65-8F 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alan E. Fearns - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 1999, 261 hours before - Departed: CGC, CRYSTAL RIVER, FL - Destination: BKV, BROOKSVILLE, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,124 total, 100 in this make and model, 1,052 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BKV, 16 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000930015199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000930015199A), Sep 30, 2000: Luscom 8A, Crystal River, FL, No damage. (-23) On September 30, 2000 at 9:45 am estimated, a Luscombe 8A, NC223K, registered to alan fearns, collided into a house at 1686 south dell point, Homosassa,… 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. --- 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.