# NTSB NYC88LA228: Luscombe 8A, N1203K, Doylestown, PA, August 24, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 24, 1988, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Doylestown, PA
- Coordinates: 40.310722, -75.119499 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3107&lon=-75.1195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36222
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA228
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36222/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA228

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - temperature extremes (contributing factor)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE CFI AND STUDENT PLT TOOK OFF FROM A 2330 FT TURF RWY. WITNESSES SAID THE WIND WAS CALM AND IT WAS HOT. THE PILOTS BOTH SAID THAT EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL UNTIL THE ACFT REACHED ABOUT 200 FT AGL AT WHICH TIME THEY LOST LIFT DUE TO EITHER A POWER LOSS OR WIND SHEAR. THE ACFT DESCENDED AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. FAA EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE AND DID NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE; NOR DID THE PILOTS REPORT A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1203K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1203K-1989-03-03), registration cancelled 1989-03-03, S/N 3930 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8A
- Registry model: [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3930
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-65A 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: James R. Chafin
- Registered owner: James R Chafin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 1988, 25 hours before
- Departed: 8N9
- Destination: N88
- Airport: 8N9, Warrington, runway 17, 2,330 × 60 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 4,037 total, 13 in this make and model, 3,731 as pilot in command, 242 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19880824035169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880824035169A), Aug 24, 1988: Luscom 8A, Doylestown, PA, Destroyed. Uphill,no wind, takeoff from turf runway. Stalled. Crashed into trees.

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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