Luscombe 8A accident near Fort Wayne, Indiana, September 4, 2021
On September 4, 2021 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1947 Luscombe 8A, registered N2071K, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Fort Wayne, Indiana (Smith Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power after takeoff due to the formation of carburetor ice while on the ground and the pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat immediately before takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 2021 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Wayne, Indiana · Smith Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A, built 1947 · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N2071K · registry record · serial 4798
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and three other airplanes were conducting a cross-country flight. After refueling, the airplanes taxied to the runway run-up area, and the pilot completed his preflight checklist. Shortly after takeoff, about 200 to 300 ft above ground level, the engine began operating rough, which included some surging, and then lost power. The pilot attempted to land on the opposite runway, which resulted in a landing with a 9- to 12-knot tailwind. Due to the tailwind, the airplane touched down near the end of the runway. Realizing the airplane would not stop before the end of the runway, the pilot turned the airplane to the right and exited the runway surface. The airplane entered a soybean field and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and vertical stabilizer. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Weather conditions reported at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power. The pilot reported that during the takeoff, the carburetor heat was off. Therefore, it is likely that carburetor ice accumulated during taxi and run-up before the takeoff, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Fuel related during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Inoperative
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 637 hours in all; 257 in this make and model; 637 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 4, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,143 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 25, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: FKL Franklin PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05/2, 3,126 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 16 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from KFWA, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFWA 041854Z 24016G25KT 10SM FEW030 BKN050 OVC095 22/16 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP134 T02220161 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N2071K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN21LA400.