# NTSB CHI98LA046: Luscombe 8A, N71329, Lincoln, NE, November 24, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 24, 1997, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Lincoln, NE - Coordinates: 40.84983, -96.519996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8498&lon=-96.5200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10790 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10790/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA046 ## Probable cause the throttle linkage coming apart in flight, and the inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - throttle/power lever,linkage - disconnected (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot said that he had recently taken off and was heading south bound at 600 feet above ground level, when the airplane's engine went to idle power. The pilot worked the throttle back and forth, but could not get any power from the engine. The pilot maneuvered the airplane so as to land in a corn field. The airplane 'stalled above the ground,' and impacted in the field. Examination of the throttle control showed that the swag ball on the throttle linkage had come off, leaving the throttle control at a low power setting. ## Factual narrative On November 24, 1997, at 1700 central standard time (cst), a Luscombe 8A, N71329, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when during cruise flight, the airplane's engine lost power. The airplane subsequently impacted the terrain. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and passenger on board received minor injuries. The local flight originated at Lincoln, Nebraska, at 1645 cst. In his written statement, the pilot said that he had recently taken off and was heading south bound at 600 feet above ground level, when the airplane's engine went to idle power. The pilot worked the throttle back and forth, but could not get any power from the engine. The pilot maneuvered the airplane so as to land in a corn field. The airplane "stalled above the ground," and impacted in the field. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the airplane at the accident site, found the airplane resting upright in a field. The forward left side of the fuselage and cowling were crushed in and rearward. The firewall was buckled and dented. One propeller blade was bent back against the cowling. The main landing gear was broken aft. The outboard four feet of the left wing was bent aft. The left wing main spar was broken 3 feet inboard of the wing tip. The left side of the fuselage from the cabin aft to the empennage showed heavy skin wrinkling. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies were found with the engine. Examination of the throttle control showed that the swag ball on the throttle linkage had come off, leaving the throttle control at a low power setting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71329](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71329), registered now, S/N 2756 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8A - Registry model: [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190104) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2756 - Airframe hours: 1370 - Engines: Continental A65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alfred Hanson & Steve Green - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1997, 35 hours before - Departed: NE59 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,521 total, 221 in this make and model, 1,397 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LNK, 5 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 19971124040449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971124040449A), Nov 24, 1997: Luscom 8A, Lincoln, NE, Substantial damage. Engine lost power. Crash landed in darkness. 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.