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NTSB Report
May 5, 1985 · Luscombe 8E · N2497K
Verden, OK
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 5, 1985
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Verden, OK
Aircraft
Luscombe 8E
Tail Number
N2497K
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW85FA209
AT ABOUT 1700 CDT ON 5/5/85, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TAKING OFF AT CHICKASHA, OK. AT SOMETIME AFTER 1700, AN ACFT MATCHING ITS DESCRIPTION WAS OBSERVED FLYING LOW OVER A LAKE. A WITNESS IN THAT AREA OBSERVED IT PULLED UP IN A STEEP CLIMB OVER THE DAM, UNTIL IT NEARLY STOPPED, THEN IT DOVE VERTICALLY & RECOVERED AT LOW ALT. THE PLT THEN FLEW TO AN AREA WERE THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED ON OPEN TERRAIN. THERE WERE NO KNOWN WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ACFT WAS FOUND APRX 24 HRS LATER. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED INDICATIONS THAT THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT WHILE SPINNING TO THE LEFT. HOWEVER, NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.194%; A CHECK HIS URINE SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.185%.
Full Narrative
AT ABOUT 1700 CDT ON 5/5/85, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TAKING OFF AT CHICKASHA, OK. AT SOMETIME AFTER 1700, AN ACFT MATCHING ITS DESCRIPTION WAS OBSERVED FLYING LOW OVER A LAKE. A WITNESS IN THAT AREA OBSERVED IT PULLED UP IN A STEEP CLIMB OVER THE DAM, UNTIL IT NEARLY STOPPED, THEN IT DOVE VERTICALLY & RECOVERED AT LOW ALT. THE PLT THEN FLEW TO AN AREA WERE THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED ON OPEN TERRAIN. THERE WERE NO KNOWN WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ACFT WAS FOUND APRX 24 HRS LATER. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED INDICATIONS THAT THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT WHILE SPINNING TO THE LEFT. HOWEVER, NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.194%; A CHECK HIS URINE SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.185%.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:00 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftLuscombe 8E
Tail NumberN2497K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-85-12 · Reciprocating · 85
Seats2
People & Injuries
Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 31 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 11 kt, gusting 17 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time23:48
Weather SourceWFAC