- Date
- April 7, 1990, 18:51 local (23:51 UTC)
- Place
- Baytown, TX
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1410KLuscombe 8-A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 12, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900407007679A
- Case key
- 23015
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent stall of the airplane while maneuvering after a partial power loss during initial climb and a partially blocked exhaust system which had been inadequately maintained.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Airplane was observed to takeoff on runway 13. Shortly after liftoff, witnesses saw the airplane decrease its climb angle or level off at about 200 feet AGL and turn left. The angle of bank steepened until a point about 120 degrees into the turn. The airplane then stalled & entered a steep nose down, left wing leading attitude until ground impact. Winds were reported from 120 degrees at 8 knots. Witnesses stated it appeared that the engine was not developing full power during the takeoff & initial climb. Investigation revealed that the flame tube of the left muffler had separated & partially blocked the outflow from the muffler. This blockage caused back pressure in the exhaust system evidenced by sooting of the exhaust stacks and plugs on the left side. The airplane had received an annual inspection 11 months prior to the accident and there were no subsequent entries. Airplane records did not indicate when the mufflers had last been overhauled or replaced. Pilot's most recent medical certificate was issued on 3/19/79.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1410K
- Reported as
- Luscombe 8-A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4137
- Engine
- Continental A-65-8, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Loren D Loy
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 4, 1989
- Airport
- HPY · Baytown, runway 13, 3,994 × 40 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 474 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HOU, 15 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.