# NTSB DEN00LA031: Luscombe 8E, N1941B, San Luis, CO, December 25, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 25, 1999, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: San Luis, CO - Coordinates: 37.200748, -105.419631 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2007&lon=-105.4196&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48392 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48392/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA031 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision, and the subsequent inadvertent stall/mush. Factors were the pilot's lack of total experience in mountain flying, the high density altitude, and downdraft weather conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, climb - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, climb - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly ## Analysis The pilot said he approached the 12,560 foot mountain pass with 500 to 600 feet of clearance, but a 'strong downdraft forced me into the ground within 2 seconds; like a fly swatter.' He said that as he descended, his flight controls 'had no fell in them.' Rescue teams reached the pilot approximately 25 hours later. A pilot (with a glider rating), who reported flying within 5 miles of the accident site, said that there were lenticular clouds over the mountain all day, and the wind was blowing from east-southeast to west. A law enforcement officer said that he drove up the mountain as far as he could on the night of the accident, and the wind was blowing westward down the mountain 40 to 60 miles per hour (mph). The pilot said that the wind was 40 to 50 mph from the east. The computed density altitude was approximately 12,306 feet. The pilot said that he recommended that he should have 'possibly [flown] higher or not [have] attempt[ed] to fly over the ridge at all.' ## Factual narrative On December 25, 1999, approximately 1130 mountain standard time, a Luscombe 8E, N1941B, was substantially damaged following impact with terrain in Whiskey Pass in the Sangre de Cristo mountains, near San Luis, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was seriously injured. The airplane was being operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight which originated from Leadville, Colorado, approximately 45 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot said that on a "lark" he decided to fly from Amarillo, Texas, to Leadville, Colorado, on Christmas Eve. He said that he had always wanted to fly into Leadville, "the highest airport in North America." The next day, on his return trip, he encountered some bumpy weather conditions. He said that as he approached the 12,560 foot mean sea level (msl) mountain pass with 500 to 600 feet of clearance, a "strong downdraft forced me into the ground within 2 seconds, like a fly swatter." The pilot said that as he descended towards the ground, his flight controls "had no feel in them." Rescue teams reached the pilot approximately 25 hours later. A pilot (with a glider rating), who reported flying within 5 miles of the accident site, said that the weather conditions over the Sangre de Cristo mountains were "very unusual on the day of the accident." He said that there were lenticular clouds over the mountains all day, and the wind was blowing from east-southeast to west. The Costilla County Sheriff said that he drove up the mountain as far as he could on the night of the accident, and the wind was blowing westward down the mountain 40 to 60 miles per hour (mph). The pilot said that the wind was 40 to 50 mph from the east, while he was on the ground. The Investigator-In-Charge computed the density altitude to be approximately 12,306 feet. The pilot said on his National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he recommended that he should have "possibly [flown] higher or not [have] attempt[ed] to fly over the ridge at all." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1941B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1941B-2003-06-16), registration cancelled 2003-06-16, S/N 6455 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8E - Registry model: [Luscombe 8E](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8e) (registry code 8190112) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6455 - Airframe hours: 2400 - Engines: Continental C-90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James A. Cocke - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 19, 1998, 120 hours before - Departed: LXV, LEADVILLE, CO - Destination: AMA, AMARILLO, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 580 total, 400 in this make and model, 580 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ALS, 38 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 19991225044109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991225044109A), Dec 25, 1999: Luscom 8E, San Luis, CO, No damage. (-23)On December 25, 1999, at approx. 1800 MST, a Luscombe 8E, was substantially damaged following impact with terrain near San Luis, Colorado. The private… 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.