# NTSB LAX01LA184: Luscombe 11A, N1606B, Apple Valley, CA, May 18, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 18, 2001, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Apple Valley, CA - Coordinates: 34.431945, -116.921112 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4319&lon=-116.9211&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 23, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 52307 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52307/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA184 ## Probable cause The pilot's fuel mismanagement, which led to fuel exhaustion, a loss of engine power, and subsequent landing on unsuitable terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven - terrain condition - none suitable ## Analysis The airplane made a forced landing on a dirt road due to a loss of engine power. The landing gear was sheared off, and both wings were damanged on the landing rollout. The personal cross-country flight had departed about 2.5 hours prior to the accident. Responding personnel looked in the fuel tanks, and the surrounding area, and did not see or smell any fuel. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 2001, at 1400 hours Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Luscombe 11A, N1606B, sustained substantial damage when it was force landed near Apple Valley, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power during cruise. The airplane was operated by the airline transport pilot/owner under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and sustained substantial damage. The pilot and his pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The personal cross-country flight departed Glendale, Arizona, at 1130 PDT. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was scheduled to terminate at the Columbia Airport, Columbia, California. According to the pilot's written statement to the Safety Board, he stated that there were no discrepancies noted with the preflight inspection, takeoff, climb, and cruise portions of the flight. He indicated that he checked fuel and time over Twenty-Nine Palms, California, and asked the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) air traffic controller how far he was from Apple Valley. ARTCC informed him he was 18 miles away. The pilot reported that it was his intention to land at Apple Valley for fuel and lunch. He started his descent from 8,500 msl to 6,500 feet msl, where he encountered light to moderate turbulence. He noted that the fuel gage was fluctuating, which indicated to him that the fuel was sloshing around in the tank. The pilot reported that the engine quit. He suspected that the fuel line had been uncovered and air had gotten into the fuel line causing vapor lock. He "pumped" the throttle "thinking I might get the fuel moving back into the carburetor to get the engine started again." He stated that he picked a place to land after his unsuccessful attempt to restart the engine. He chose a small dirt road; he indicated that his only problem was a paved road with poles that was parallel to the dirt road. He setup for the forced landing. At 20 mph he pushed the airplane's nose over to land in a level attitude with some forward movement. The pilot stated that he did this to lessen the downward direction of the airplane and to slow it down enough to be able to stop before hitting the poles. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, controllers from ARTCC were providing the pilot with flight following. The pilot informed the ARTCC controller that he was out of fuel and would be making a forced landing. A responding San Bernardino Sheriff's Department deputy stated that he observed no fuel in either of the airplane's fuel tanks or on the ground beneath the airplane. He also stated that the airplane's wings showed indications of brushing against vegetation, and were damaged. The propeller was bent at the tips, and the landing gear had been sheared off. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1606B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1606B-2015-05-20), registration cancelled 2015-05-20, S/N 11-112, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 11A - Registry model: [Luscombe 11A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-11a) (registry code 8890402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E165 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e165-series) (registry code 17013, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11-115 - Airframe hours: 1510 - Engines: Continental E-185-11 118 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John Drexler - Registered owner: Joseph and John Drexler - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2000, 30 hours before - Departed: GEU, Glendale, AZ - Destination: APV, Apple Valley, CA - Airport: APV, Apple Valley ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 8, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 16,000 total, 30 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 14 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: KDAG, 30 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 20010518010009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010518010009A), May 18, 2001: Temco 11A, Apple Valley, CA, Substantial damage. (.19)On may 18, 2001, at 1351 hours pacific daylight time, a Luscombe 11A, N1606B, sustained substantial damage when it made a forced landing near Apple… ## Other investigations on N1606B (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 WPR10LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA306), Jun 19, 2010: Luscombe 11A (N1606B), Merced, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain airplane control during cruise flight due to the failure of the elevator trim tab as a result of missing hardware for the elevator control cable bellcrank to… 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.