# NTSB CEN21LA085: Luscombe 8, N2238K, Manvel, TX, December 10, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 10, 2020, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Manvel, TX - Coordinates: 29.4875, -95.314722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4875&lon=-95.3147&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 102403 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102403/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102403 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA085 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during his attempted landing and his loss of situational awareness that led to him to misidentify a pipeline field for the landing airpark. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis A witness reported that he saw the airplane takeoff from the airpark and fly a left traffic pattern. The airplane disappeared behind a tree line after lining up on a pipeline easement northeast of the airport. The witness then reported a bright flash from a power line, and he responded to the accident scene. He observed the airplane resting inverted in the field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the forward fuselage. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident site. The inspector reported that the airplane struck a set of power lines and crashed in a pipeline field about seven-tenths of a mile from the airpark. The owner of the property adjacent to the field told the inspector that he witnessed the airplane hit the power lines and that the airplane appeared to be attempting to land in the field. The witness reported that since the accident he has spoken with the pilot on multiple occasions and the pilot has no memory of the crash or the events leading to the accident. However, in his statement to the FAA inspector, the witness reported the pilot telling him several times that he was on final approach to the runway when he hit the power lines. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2238K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2238K-2022-11-05), registration cancelled 2022-11-05, S/N 4965, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8 (A) - Registry model: [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4965 - Year built: 1947 - Engines: Continental C90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 3T2, Manvel, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 0; injuries: serious; remote, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KLVJ, 4 nm away - METAR: KLVJ 100653Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 09/07 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP192 T00940067 ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102403. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 completed by witness (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 491 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12380496&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20from%20witness_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Map of accident site location versus the airport runway (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 469 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12380514&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Location%20Versus%20Airport%20Runway%20Surface%20Diagram-Rel.pdf - Accident site photograph (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 769 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12380717&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Photograph-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12388226&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N2238K%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf 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.