# NTSB SEA86FA213: Luscombe 8A, N45830, Pelican, AK, August 19, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 19, 1986, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Pelican, AK
- Coordinates: 57.950653, -136.109024 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.9507&lon=-136.1090&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40296
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA86FA213
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40296/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86FA213

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AT ABOUT 1500 ADT ON 8/19/86, THE PLT DEPARTED ON A FLT TO HOONAK, AK. WHEN HE DID NOT RETURN, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. THE ACFT WAS LOCATED AT 1400 ADT ON THE FOLLOWING DAY WHERE IT HAD CRASHED ON RISING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT AN ELEV OF ABOUT 1740 FT. AN EXAM REVEALED THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO MOVEMENT AFTER IMPACT. THE ACFT WINGS SHOWED A SLIGHT COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TWIST & THE FLOATS & TAIL CONE WERE CANTED TO THE LEFT. A CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED A SLIGHT AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL (0.026%); HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT DUE TO PSBL PUTREFACTION WAS NOT VERIFIED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N45830](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45830-2013-10-23), registration cancelled 2013-10-23, S/N 2357, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8A
- Registry model: [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2357
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-90-8F 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert R. Shelley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PELICAN, AK
- Destination: HOONAH, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 191 total, 191 in this make and model, 128 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken

## 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 19860819044359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860819044359A), Aug 19, 1986: Luscom STC8LUSCOM, Pelican, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft stalled and struck high terrain. Suspect engine failure distracted pilot who had consumed alcohol.

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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