Browns Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Weeping Water, Nebraska 68463
Sunday, October 11, 2009 15:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the departure climb, the pilot noted a partial loss of engine power and attempted to return to the airport. The airplane impacted a cornfield in a nose low attitude resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. An examination of the engine revealed that the number two exhaust valve was stuck in the open position. An examination of the remaining engine and airplane systems revealed no anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in a stall. Contributing to the accident was the stuck exhaust valve resulting in the partial loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/11/2009
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Weeping Water
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 68463
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 405203N
Event Location Longitude 0960636W
Event Location Airport Browns Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NE69
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1183
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1555 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID KOFF
Elevation of weather observation facility 1183
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 4800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.26
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26502
NTSB Notification Source FAA FSDO - Lincoln
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 6 2010 11:21AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1536B
NTSB Number CEN10LA012
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LUSCOMBE
Aircraft Model 8E
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 6163
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Aug 1 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 1619
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CLAUSEN JEFF C
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1320 BEECHCRAFT RD
Aircraft Owner City LINCOLN
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68527-9478
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name James S Trammell
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4624 Grover Street
Operator City Omaha
Operator State NE
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 68106
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 KNE6
Departure City Weeping Water
Departure State NE
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1550
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code K3NO
Destination City Omaha
Destination State NE
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 2 2009 5:24PM
User who most recently changed record kaij
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --