Ryan Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tucson, Arizona 85735
Sunday, August 19, 1990 12:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A LUSCOMBE 8A LOSS CONTROL AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE AND A PASSENGER WERE CONDUCTING AN AERIAL SEARCH FOR THE PASSENGER'S MISSING RADIO CONTROLLED MODEL AIRPLANE. THE MODEL AIRPLANE WAS SPOTTED FROM ABOUT 1,500 FEET AGL. THE PILOT WAS MAKING A LOW PASS TO PINPOINT THE LOCATION OF THE MODEL AIRPLANE. THE PILOT STATED, 'WHEN I MADE THE FINAL TURN TO FLY BY THE MODEL I STALLED INTO A GROVE OF MESQUITE TREES.' THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AND STRUCK A TREE WITH THE RIGHT WING. THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED 180 DEGREES AND STRUCK THE GROUND TAIL FIRST.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER PITCH ATTITUDE AND AIRSPEED TO AVOID AN AERODYNAMIC STALL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/19/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City TUCSON
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85735
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RYAN FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RYN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 37
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1015
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 19 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42236
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:16PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N71330
NTSB Number LAX90LA295
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LUSCOMBE
Aircraft Model 8A
Aircraft Series Identifier 8A
Aircraft Serial Number 2757
Certified Max Gross Weight 1260
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 17 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 85
Airframe Hours 1956
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SEMRAD, JAMES V
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4873 NORTH TERRITORY LOOP
Aircraft Owner City TUCSON
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85715
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SEMRAD, JAMES V.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4873 N. TERRITORY LOOP
Operator City TUCSON
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85715
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --