Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mackay, Idaho 83251
Sunday, September 24, 1989 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A LOCAL FLIGHT FOR THE PURPOSE OF SPOTTING ANTELOPE FOR A FUTURE HUNTING TRIP, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND AT THE BASE OF ONE TREE THAT INDICATED EVIDENCE OF AT LEAST TWO PROPELLER STRIKES. THE NOSE OF THE PLANE WAS BURIED APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET INTO THE GROUND WITH THE TAIL SECTION ELEVATED FIVE FEET ABOVE THE TERRAIN. AS DETERMINED FROM TREE STRIKES AND THE DAMAGE TO THE LEADING EDGE WING AREA, THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. ACCIDENT SITE 8,300 FT MSL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED FOR FLIGHT. HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS A FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/24/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 0
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City MACKAY
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83251
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 9
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 105
Weather Observation Facility ID IDA
Elevation of weather observation facility 4740
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 84
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 11200
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1889
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 26 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1350
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40977
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N71756
NTSB Number SEA89LA179
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 3183
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 Apr 10 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 1980
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name REEVES, EDWIN L JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 263 E 5TH ST.
Aircraft Owner City IDAHO FALLS
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83401
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name REEVES, EDWIN L.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 263 E. 5TH ST
Operator City IDAHO FALLS
Operator State ID
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 83401
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 IDA
Departure City IDAHO FALLS
Departure State ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 1340
Departure Time Zone MDT
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 Descent
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --