# NTSB DEN82DA124: Luscombe 8F, N1370B, Calhan, CO, July 1, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 1, 1982, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Calhan, CO
- Location: 39.0483° N, 104.2930° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CALHAN (5V4), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0483&lon=-104.2930&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 1, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70097
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82DA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70097/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DA124

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
- Nose over, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM AN AIRPORT WITH A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 9500 FT. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE AIRCRAFT REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 100 FT AGL AND THEN STOPPED CLIMBING. THE PILOT INITIATED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES WHICH INCLUDED LEANING THE MIXTURE AND APPLYING CARBURETOR HEAT MOMENTARILY, BUT THESE DID NOT HELP. WHEN IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT THE PLANE WAS GOING TO SETTLE INTO RISING TERRAIN, A SLIGHT TURN WAS MADE TO PICK THE MOST FAVORABLE PLACE TO TOUCH DOWN. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN, THE MAIN GEAR WAS DAMAGED AND THE PLANE WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND NOSED OVER. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLANE WAS LOADED ALMOST TO ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT. AN INSPECTION AND RUN-UP OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1370B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1370B-2012-06-27), registration cancelled 2012-06-27, S/N 5997, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8F
- Registry model: [Luscombe 8F](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8f) (registry code 8190114) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5997
- Airframe hours: 3081
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-90 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: George A. Catalano
- Registered owner: Richard Demars
- Departed: 5V4, CALHAN, CO
- Destination: 3V5, FORT COLLINS, CO
- Airport: 5V4, Calhan, runway 35, 4,000 × 100 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,939 total, 98 in this make and model, 1,779 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 181 °F

## 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 19820701025749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820701025749A), Jul 1, 1982: Luscom 8F, Calhan, CO, Substantial damage. Aircraft would not climb after takeoff,crash occurred on rising terrain off end of airport. Density altitude 9500 ft

## Other investigations on N1370B (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN72DTE30](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN72DTE30), Oct 2, 1971: Luscombe 8F (N1370B), Greeley, CO, substantial damage

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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