- Date
- May 9, 1982, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Fredonia, KS
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2248KLuscombe 8A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820509014299A
- Case key
- 70751
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
The aircraft crashed after taking off on a test flight. A witness reported that the aircraft was in a steep angle of climb, and the nose pitched down as the pilot was making a left turn. The witness reported that the pilot had been adjusting the magnetos prior to takeoff. However, no preimpact failure of the engine or airframe was found. Both magnetos were driven clockwise on the engine, and both produced a good spark when bench tested. However, the right magneto distributor gear and breaker were set for counterclockwise rotation. The left magneto distributor gear was set in a clockwise position, while the respective breaker cam was set for counterclockwise rotation. Due to engine damage, magneto-to-engine timing could not be checked. Both magnetos had been set at the limits of their mounting slots on the engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2248K
- Reported as
- Luscombe 8A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4975
- Airframe hours
- 4,455
- Engine
- Continental C-85, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- K C Relph
- Registered owner
- K C Relph
- Departed
- Fredonia, KS
- Destination
- Fredonia, KS
- Airport
- Fredonia Municipal, runway 17, 2,430 × 50 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
- 57
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 1,530 total · 15 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 16 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Temperature
- 172 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2248K · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.