Delano Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Delano, California 93215
Saturday, June 12, 1982 8:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT AND HIS DAUGHTER WERE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. DURING A FORCED LANDING APPROACH TO A HIGHWAY, THE PILOT NOTICED SOME POWERLINES WHICH HE WENT UNDER. HE AVOIDED THE POWERLINES, BUT HIT A TRUCK. THE CRASH SITE WAS LOCATED WITHIN 5 MILES OF THE DESTINATION. THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND HAD NO RECOLLECTION ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. HIS DAUGHTER RELATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT RAN OUT OF FUEL. DURING AN INVESTIGATION, FUEL WAS FOUND IN BOTH TANKS. THE RIGHT TANK HAD THE LOWEST LEVEL OF FUEL WITH 3 GALLONS REMAINING. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVES WERE FOUND TO BE VERY STIFF AND COULD NOT BE SWITCHED TO THE LEFT TANK. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN REBUILT FROM 3 OTHER PLANES AND DID NOT HAVE THE LUSCOMBE AUTHORIZED FUEL SYSTEM INSTALLED. THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY DURING AN OPERATIONAL CHECK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/12/1982
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 815
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City DELANO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93215
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport DELANO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DLO
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 Unknown
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 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 75
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 933
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2013B
NTSB Number LAX82DA217
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LUSCOMBE
Aircraft Model 8A
Aircraft Series Identifier 8A
Aircraft Serial Number 6440
Certified Max Gross Weight 1250
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 1160
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MICHAEL SIMEK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14111 PLEASANT STREET
Aircraft Owner City GARDEN GROVE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92643
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DONALD C. SPRANKLE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1658 SUNRISE WAY
Operator City CORONA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91720
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 PORTERVILLE
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 758
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City DELANO
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
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 --