- Date
- November 12, 1993, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Griffin, GA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N822BLuscombe 8F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931112045339A
- Case key
- 3323
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering following a loss of engine power for unknown reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Witnesses stated that immediately after takeoff, about 200 ft AGL, the airplane made a sharp 180 deg right turn back toward the runway. The airplane stalled and impacted terrain on the south side of the runway. The pilot stated to witnesses in the area that the engine had stopped producing power after takeoff, and he attempted to return to the airfield. The pilot/owner did not make the engine available for examination.
Factual narrative
On November 12, 1993, about 1100 eastern standard time, a Luscombe 8F, N822B, collided with the ground during an uncontrolled descent near Griffin, Georgia. The airplane was operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the local, personal flight. The private pilot had serious injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
Witnesses stated that the aircraft was departing toward the east at the private sod airfield. It appeared that the airplane made a sharp right turn, as if trying to return to the runway. The airplane appeared to stall, and impacted the ground on the south side of the airport. Witnesses stated that the pilot said that the engine stopped producing power after takeoff, and he attempted to return to the airfield.
The owner/pilot failed to complete the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, and declined to make the engine available for further examination. He was ambulatory at the accident site and requested that a friend of his, who was at the accident site, take care of the wreckage. The friend had done maintenance work on the airplane. The wreckage was removed from the accident site to a local salvage yard. Subsequently, the owner retrieved the wreckage. Numerous telephone calls were made in an attempt to contact the owner, all without success. The friend who retrieved the wreckage was also asked to induce the owner to contact this investigator, again, without success. A blank Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report form was sent to the owner/pilot. It was returned as unclaimed (copy attached).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N822B
- Reported as
- Luscombe 8F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 6753
- Engine
- Continental C90, 95 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Burnett, James H.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Airport
- NONE · Private, runway 9, 2,500 × 50 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,500 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ATL, 20 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.