# NTSB MIA85FA170: Silvaire Luscombe 8A, N71909, Astatula, FL, May 15, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 15, 1985, 17:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Astatula, FL
- Location: 28.7073° N, 81.7342° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Astatula, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7073&lon=-81.7342&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31245
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85FA170
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31245/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85FA170

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command
  - pull-up - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT (PIC) & HIS PLT RATED FRIEND WERE PRACTICING WHAT THE PIC DESCRIBED AS SIMULATED CROP DUSTING. AFTER COMPLETING A LOW PASS OVER A FIELD, THE PIC MADE A STEEP PULL UP TO TURN AROUND. HE REPORTED THAT THE ACFT THEN STALLED & CRASHED. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS NEAR VERTICAL DURING THE PULL UP & APPEARED TO NEARLY COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE PLUNGING TO THE GROUND. REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT & ENG WERE PERFORMING NORMALLY PRIOR TO THE CRASH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N71909](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71909-1988-04-05), registration cancelled 1988-04-05, S/N 3336 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A (LUSCOMBE 8)
- Registry model: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/silvaire-luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3336
- Airframe hours: 2603
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James C. Corbitt, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 1985
- Departed: X61, ZELLWOOD, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total, 152 in this make and model, 410 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCO, 26 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 19850515017069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850515017069A), May 15, 1985: Luscom 8A, Astatula, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot made crop dusting type pass and pulled up steeply. Aircraft stalled and impacted ground virtually nose first.

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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