# NTSB FTW85FA209: Luscombe 8E, N2497K, Verden, OK, May 5, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 5, 1985, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Verden, OK
- Coordinates: 35.079132, -98.079856 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0791&lon=-98.0799&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21546
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85FA209
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21546/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85FA209

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AT ABOUT 1700 CDT ON 5/5/85, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TAKING OFF AT CHICKASHA, OK. AT SOMETIME AFTER 1700, AN ACFT MATCHING ITS DESCRIPTION WAS OBSERVED FLYING LOW OVER A LAKE. A WITNESS IN THAT AREA OBSERVED IT PULLED UP IN A STEEP CLIMB OVER THE DAM, UNTIL IT NEARLY STOPPED, THEN IT DOVE VERTICALLY & RECOVERED AT LOW ALT. THE PLT THEN FLEW TO AN AREA WERE THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED ON OPEN TERRAIN. THERE WERE NO KNOWN WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ACFT WAS FOUND APRX 24 HRS LATER. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED INDICATIONS THAT THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT WHILE SPINNING TO THE LEFT. HOWEVER, NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.194%; A CHECK HIS URINE SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.185%.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2497K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2497K-2014-09-22), registration cancelled 2014-09-22, S/N 5224, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8E
- Registry model: [Luscombe 8E](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8e) (registry code 8190112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5224
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kenneth M. Franks
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CHK, CHICKASHA, OK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: OKC, 40 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 19850505018829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850505018829A), May 5, 1985: Luscom 8E, Verden, OK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft departed downwind and was seen doing low level maneuvers. Aircraft spun in. Pilot intoxicated.

## Other investigations on N2497K (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 MKC82DA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC82DA090), May 25, 1982: Luscombe 8E (N2497K), Goodland, KS, 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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