# NTSB SEA04LA008: Luscombe 8E, N1806K, Spanaway, WA, October 18, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 18, 2003, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Spanaway, WA - Coordinates: 47.086666, -122.417503 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0867&lon=-122.4175&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58220 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58220/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA008 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude resulting in an undershoot of the runway and collision with a fence. A fence was a factor in the accident. ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing approach, just before touchdown, the airplane's tail wheel caught the top of the chain link fence that runs perpendicular to runway 16. He stated that the airplane consequently impacted terrain and nosed over. The pilot stated that he might have been a little low while on final approach. Additionally, the pilot reported that he encountered turbulence, downdrafts and wind shear while on final approach to the runway. At the time of the accident, winds were reported to be from the south at 12 knots. ## Factual narrative On October 18, 2003, about 1530 Pacific daylight time, a Luscombe 8E airplane, N1806K, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with a fence while landing at the Spanaway Airport, Spanaway, Washington. The airplane is registered to the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot sustained serious injuries, and the one passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on October 22, the pilot reported that during landing approach, just before touchdown, the airplane's tail wheel caught the top of a chain link fence that runs perpendicular to runway 16. He stated that the airplane consequently impacted terrain and nosed over. The pilot stated that he might have been a little low while on final approach. In a subsequent written report dated October 28, the pilot stated that he encountered turbulence, downdrafts and wind shear while on final approach to the runway. The pilot reported that the winds were from the south at 12 knots when the accident occurred. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - fence (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - terrain condition - ground ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1806K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1806K), registered now, S/N 4533 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8E - Registry model: [Luscombe 8E](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8e) (registry code 8190112) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4533 - Engines: Continental C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John Russo - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 13, 2003, 17 hours before - Departed: S44, Spanaway, WA - Destination: S44, Spanaway, WA - Airport: S44, Spanaway, runway 16, 2,724 × 20 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,659 total, 208 in this make and model, 1,659 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 13 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KTCM, 6 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 20031018027469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031018027469A), Oct 18, 2003: Luscom 8E, Spanaway, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft clipped a cyclone fence on approach then flipped over. Witness reports indicate the aircraft may have been too low during approach. Witness… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.