# NTSB NYC97LA114: Luscombe 8F, N1894B, New Town, PA, June 15, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 15, 1997, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: New Town, PA - Coordinates: 40.889007, -78.3292 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8890&lon=-78.3292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39375 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39375/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA114 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in an intermittent fuel supply, and a loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fuel supply - not maintained (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis According to the pilot, when the airplane departed, the fuel selector was selected to the left fuel tank and the left fuel gauge was indicating 1/2 full. The right fuel gauge was indicating full. While in cruise flight, the airplane's engine lost power and the pilot immediately switched the fuel selector position to the right fuel tank. The engine resumed making power for a few seconds and then lost power again. The pilot then switched the fuel selector back to the left tank. The airplane's engine power continued to fluctuate and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction. Significant brown staining of vegetation underneath the left wing was noted. There was virtually no staining of vegetation located underneath the right wing. The engine performed satisfactorily during a post accident test run. ## Factual narrative On June 15, 1997, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8F, N1894B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near New Town, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed the Morgantown Airport (O03), Morgantown, Pennsylvania, about 1220, destined for the Flying W Airport (N14), Lumberton, New Jersey. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot said he departed N14 for O03, earlier in the day, and "topped off" both tanks before the flight. The pilot arrived at O03, where his son boarded the airplane. They then flew the airplane "around the pattern" three times, landed, and the pilot's son deplaned. The pilot then departed O03 for the return flight to N14, and stated "The fuel selector was still on the left tank and the fuel gauge was reading 1/2. The right fuel gauge was still reading full..." According to the pilot, he was cruising at 2,500 feet msl, at a speed of 110 mph, and using a power setting of 2400 rpm when the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot further stated: "...I immediately switched to the right fuel tank. The engine resumed making power for a few seconds and then lost power again. I switched the left tank back on [and] the loss of power problem continued. The engine would essentially quit, like fuel starvation for 3 or 4 seconds, then get fuel and make full power for 3 or four seconds..." The pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll, in a attempt to avoid trees, the pilot steered the aircraft into a hay field. The airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction. The inspector noted significant brown staining of vegetation underneath the left wing. There was virtually no staining of vegetation located underneath the right wing. The engine performed satisfactorily during a post accident test run. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1894B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1894B), registered now, S/N 6321, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8F - Registry model: [Luscombe 8F](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8f) (registry code 8190114) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6321 - Airframe hours: 1858 - Engines: Continental C-90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Waldo Steen - Registered owner: Alice Steen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 20, 1996, 100 hours before - Departed: O03, MORGANTOWN, PA - Destination: N14, LUMBERTON, NJ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 910 total, 300 in this make and model, 750 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - 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 19970615014069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970615014069A), Jun 15, 1997: Luscom 8F, New Town, PA, Substantial damage. Aircraft made an emergency landing in a field, struck a ditch, flipped over. (.4) according to the pilot, when the airplane departed, the fuel selector was… 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.