# NTSB CEN25LA080: Luscombe 8, N71586, Omaha, NE, January 16, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 16, 2025, 16:54 local (22:54 UTC)
- Place: Omaha, NE
- Coordinates: 41.195986, -96.112265 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1960&lon=-96.1123&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- 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
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199561
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA080
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199561/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199561
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA080

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while in the traffic pattern, the engine completely lost power. He switched fuel tanks, but engine power was not restored. The pilot conducted a forced landing and impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks contained no usable fuel and the gascolator contained about a tablespoon of fuel. There was no evidence of fuel blight at the accident site. After the accident, the pilot stated that he did not sump the fuel tanks and should have checked the fuel level before the flight.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050)
- [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N71586](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71586), registered now, S/N 3013, built 1946 (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 A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3013
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 3633.7
- Engines: Continental Motors C-90 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 2024, 1 hours before
- Departed: MLE, Omaha, NE
- Destination: MLE, Omaha, NE
- Airport: MLE, Millard Airport
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 81; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 10, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: KMLE
- METAR: METAR KMLE 162315Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 09/M04 A2998 RMK AO2 T00911045=

## 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 20250116000619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250116000619A), Jan 16, 2025: Luscombe 8A, Omaha, NE, Substantial damage. -Accident pilot departed airport for currency pattern work. After first touch and go departure climb out, the aircraft engine began to sputter and quit…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199561. 5.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18541576&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18542248&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum of record a�� FAA (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18541177&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MOR-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.

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