# NTSB ERA16LA291: Luscombe 8, N71497, Marlboro, NJ, August 13, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 13, 2016, 12:03 local (16:03 UTC) - Place: Marlboro, NJ - Coordinates: 40.284999, -74.222778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2850&lon=-74.2228&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 8, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Continental Motors, Inc., FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93832 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16LA291 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93832/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93832 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA291 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel indication system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was on a local personal flight and, after flying about 1.5 hours, the engine experienced a total loss of engine power that he could not restore. He maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing in a field, but the airplane impacted the ground in a nose- and left-wing-low attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no fuel remaining in the intact fuel tank and only residual fuel remaining in the fuel strainer and carburetor. The glass face of the fuel tank quantity indicator gauge was scratched and cloudy. The examination revealed no evidence of preimpact failures or malfunctions of the engine or engine accessories that would have precluded normal operation. Thus, it is likely that the pilot did not adequately manage the fuel supply during flight, and the scratched and cloudy glass face of the fuel quantity indicator gauge may have led the pilot to misinterpret how much fuel was remaining. ## Factual narrative On August 13, 2016, about 1203 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8A, N71497, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in an open field near Marlboro, New Jersey. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated about 1 hour 30 minutes earlier from Old Bridge Airport (3N6), Old Bridge, New Jersey.The pilot stated to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel that the flight departed 3N6 with about 12 gallons of fuel and flew around the local area. While in cruise flight at 1,200 ft mean sea level, he reported the engine suddenly ceased producing power, and his attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. He maneuvered for a forced landing to a nearby racetrack but realized the flight path was too high. He then maneuvered for a forced landing in a nearby field, and while in a nose and left wing low attitude, the airplane impacted the ground. He further stated that the engine did not sputter, and he did apply carburetor heat, but that did not restore engine power. Examination of the accident site and airplane by the FAA inspector revealed no fuel remained in the un-breached fuel tank. The inlet fitting at the fuel strainer was broken off but no fuel leakage was noted. A stain on the ground near the engine was attributed to be oil from the breached oil tank. During recovery of the airplane, the fuel supply line from the fuel tank was cut and no fuel was noted in the line. Examination of the engine by a representative of the engine manufacturer with FAA oversight following recovery of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The carburetor which was separated from the induction plenum but remained connected via the flexible hose from the fuel strainer and control cables was drained and found to contain about 1 or 2 teaspoons of fuel. The fuel strainer was found to contain about 2 tablespoons of fuel. The fuel tank quantity indicator glass was scratched and cloudy. There were no other reported issues with the fuel quantity indicating system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71497](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71497-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 2924, 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: 2924 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 3698 - Engines: Continental A65-8F 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2016, 16 hours before - Departed: 3N6, Old Bridge, NJ - Destination: 3N6, Old Bridge, NJ - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 25, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 531 total, 415 in this make and model, 531 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: BLM, 8 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 20160813024579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160813024579A), Aug 13, 2016: Luscombe 8A, Marlboro Twp, NJ, Destroyed. On August 13, 2016, about 1203 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8A, N71497, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in an open field near Marlboro,… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 25, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93832. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of FAA Conversation With the Pilot-In-Command (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20FAA%20Conversation%20With%20the%20Pilot-In-Command-Master.PDF - Record of NTSB Conversations (item 3, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472184&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversations-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472185&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - FAA Concurring Statement Concerning Engine Examination Report (item 5, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Concurring%20Statement%20Concerning%20Engine%20Examination%20Report-Master.PDF - Investigative Photographs (item 6, .PDF, 7 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472187&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Master.PDF - GPS Device Factual Report (item 7, .PDF, 2 photos, 610 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472188&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=GPS%20Device%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 8, .PDF, 322 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 and NTSB Evidence Control Form (item 9, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472190&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15%20and%20NTSB%20Evidence%20Control%20Form-Master.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. --- 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.