# NTSB SEA97LA061: Luscombe 8A, N77947, Morgan, UT, February 22, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 22, 1997, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Morgan, UT - Coordinates: 41.010181, -111.669258 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0102&lon=-111.6693&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42564 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42564/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA061 ## Probable cause Disconnection of the mixture control wire wound cable sheath. A factor was the abrupt, elevated edge of the highway pavement. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - mixture control,cable - disconnected (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment (contributing factor) ## Analysis While in cruise at 1,500 feet AGL, the pilot attempted to lean the mixture. He discovered he could not advance the mixture control back into the rich position. Rather, the mixture control would spring back out into an idle position. With the aircraft committed to a reduced power descent, the pilot executed an intentional emergency landing on the westbound lanes of Interstate 84, during which he had to maneuver over an overpass and beneath power lines which crossed the highway. He reported that the landing was hard and during the rollout the aircraft departed the paved surface, veering left across the median, at which time the wheels struck a six inch lip at the edge of the pavement to the eastbound lanes. The aircraft then nosed over. Postcrash examination of the aircraft revealed that the wire-wound sheathing surrounding the mixture control push-pull cable had separated from the solid fitting end which is held firm at the back of the instrument panel. This disconnection allowed the mixture control cable and surrounding wire-wound sheath to flex but prevented the cable from changing the position of the mixture control at the carburetor. ## Factual narrative On February 22, 1997, approximately 1300 mountain standard time, a Luscombe 8A, N77947, registered to and being flown by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the aircraft nosed over during landing roll following an emergency landing on Interstate 84 near Morgan, Utah. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from the Morgan County airport, Morgan, Utah, approximately 1245. The pilot reported that while approximately 1500 feet above ground level in cruise he attempted to lean the mixture by retarding the mixture control. During this process he ascertained that the mixture control would not move forward into a rich position. Rather, the mixture control would spring back out into an idle position. With the aircraft committed to a reduced power descent, the pilot executed an intentional emergency landing on the westbound lanes of Interstate 84 during which he had to maneuver over an over-pass and beneath power lines which crossed the highway. He reported that the landing was hard and during the rollout the aircraft departed the paved surface veering left across the median at which time the wheels struck a six inch lip at the edge of the pavement to the eastbound lanes. The aircraft then nosed over. There was no other property damage. Post-crash examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector revealed that the wire-wound sheathing surrounding the mixture control push-pull cable had separated from the solid fitting end which is held firm at the back of the instrument panel. This disconnection allowed the mixture control cable and surrounding wire-wound sheath to flex but prevented the cable from changing the position of the mixture control at the carburetor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N77947](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N77947-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 3674, 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 A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3674 - Airframe hours: 1352 - Engines: Continental A65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Peterson, Gene, L. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 1996, 18 hours before - Departed: 42U, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 969 total, 456 in this make and model, 871 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HIF, 12 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 19970222001759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970222001759A), Feb 22, 1997: Luscom 8A, Morgan, UT, Substantial damage. Mixture control wnet to idle cutoff. Landed on I84. Nosed over. Mixture sheathing seperated blocked mixture control. ## Other investigations on N77947 (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN82DA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DA104), Jun 21, 1982: Luscombe 8A (N77947), Wendover, UT, substantial damage 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.