# NTSB FTW94LA313: Luscombe 8A, N71245, Byers, CO, September 24, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 24, 1994, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Byers, CO
- Coordinates: 39.70906, -104.220802 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7091&lon=-104.2208&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19173
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA313
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19173/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA313

## Probable cause

FAILURE BY THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN A PROPER DESCENT RATE DURING APPROACH TO LANDING. A FACTOR WAS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN MAKE, MODEL, AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, landing
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AN APPROACH TO A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP.  THE AIRCRAFT ESTABLISHED A HIGH SINK RATE ON FINAL AND LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN A DITCH. THE PILOT HAD LESS THAN ONE HOUR OF EXPERIENCE IN MAKE, MODEL, AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.

## Factual narrative

On September 24, 1994, at 1200 mountain daylight time, a Luscombe 8A, N71245, sustained substantial damage when it landed short of the runway at a private airstrip near Byers, Colorado.  The pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local personal flight and no flight plan was filed.

According to the pilot, he got into a high sink rate condition on short final.  The aircraft landed short and collided with a drainage ditch.  Weather at the time of the accident was clear with winds out of the north at 7 knots.  The density altitude was 7,000 feet.

From information provided by the pilot, this was his first flight in this type aircraft and he had accumulated less than one hour in make and model.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N71245](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71245), registered now, S/N 2672, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8A
- Registry model: [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2672
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hough, Howard A.
- Registered owner: Howell, Nicholas A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CO
- Destination: CO
- Airport: Sky Haven (Private), runway 35, 3,500 × 30 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 750 total, 1 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DEN, 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 19940924031169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940924031169A), Sep 24, 1994: Luscom 8A, Byers, CO, Substantial damage. High sink rate on final. Landed short in a ditch. Less than hour in type.

## Other investigations on N71245 (2)

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 DEN70DXD41](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN70DXD41), May 23, 1970: Luscombe 8A (N71245), Littleton, CO, substantial damage
- [NTSB DEN70FXD02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN70FXD02), Jan 24, 1970: Luscombe 8A (N71245), Englewood, 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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