Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sebewaing, Michigan 48759
Friday, June 30, 1989 8:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ON A LOCAL FLIGHT WITH HIS GRANDSON, THE 64 YEAR OLD PILOT FLEW LOW OVER A WHEAT FIELD TO CHECK OUT THE CROP. THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO DESCEND LOW ENOUGH FOR THE MAIN LANDING GEAR TO GET CAUGHT IN THE TOP OF THE WHEAT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET FROM THE POINT OF INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE WHEAT, AND NOSED OVER, COMING TO A REST UPSIDE DOWN. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PRE-IMPACT PROBLEM WITH THE AIRCRAFT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

PILOT'S INATTENTIVE AIRCRAFT HANDLING WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO DETECT AND PREVENT THE AIRCRAFT'S DESCENT INTO THE WHEAT FIELD.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/30/1989
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SEBEWAING
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48759
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 754 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID MBS
Elevation of weather observation facility 668
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 747
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 5 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40251
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2154K
NTSB Number CHI89LA126
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 4881
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 Sep 24 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 1209
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KOCH, HOWARD & HELEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address RFD 2. 4353 VOLZ ROAD
Aircraft Owner City SEBEWAING
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48759
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KOCH, HOWARD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4353 VOLVE ROAD
Operator City SEBEWAING
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 48759
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 820
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 --