# NTSB DEN85LA104: Luscombe 8E, N2482K, Casper, WY, March 31, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 31, 1985, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Casper, WY
- Coordinates: 42.860153, -106.769241 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8602&lon=-106.7692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16654
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16654/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA104

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

BEFORE REACHING THE DESTINATION, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE & THE PASSENGER BECAME ILL. THE PLT TRIED TO LAND ON THE EAST-WEST RWY, BUT THE X-WIND WAS TOO STRONG, SO HE THEN ENTERED A PATTERN FOR RWY 3. AFTER TURNING INTO THE WIND FOR A LANDING, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A GUST-LIKE CONDITION, THEN STALLED & IMPACTED THE GROUND. THERE WAS A FAST MOVING SNOW SQUALL IN THE VICINITY WITH WIND GUSTS TO 58 KTS. ALSO, THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT HAD ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2482K (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8E
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5209
- Airframe hours: 4700
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gilbert Henry Montiel
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 14, 1984, 35 hours before
- Departed: THP, THEMOPOLIS, WY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: HAD, Harford, runway 3, 1,500 × 60 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 268 total, 268 in this make and model, 148 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 30 knots, gusting 35
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19850331010099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850331010099A), Mar 31, 1985: Luscom 8E, Casper, WY, Destroyed. Flew into wind on final. Airspeed bled off. Aircraft stalled, impacted ground. Snow on windshield hindered vision.

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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