Luscombe 8A accident near Marine City, Michigan, July 20, 2006
On July 20, 2006, a Luscombe 8A, registered N1026K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marine City, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to the partial blocked carburetor fuel screen which resulted in partial fuel starvation and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the forced landing which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A factor associated with the accident was the low altitude at which the loss of engine power occurred.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2006
- Place
- Marine City, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N1026K · no longer on the register · serial 3753
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted the terrain in a field following a loss of engine power on takeoff. The pilot reported that the engine start and run up were normal. He stated that the engine lost power and restarted when they were about half way down the runway during the takeoff. He stated this occurred again when they were too far down the runway to abort the takeoff. The pilot reported that there were high-tension lines in front of them so he descended to fly under the lines. He then saw lower power lines near the road. He was able to fly above these lines. The pilot reported that the engine power continued going on and off during this period. The pilot reported the airplane was about tree top height when he banked to the left and then to the right to line up with a field. It was during this time the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. Inspection of the airplane and engine revealed that approximately one third of the carburetor fuel screen was plugged by dirt. No other mechanical failures/malfunctions were identified.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 335 hours in all; 163 in this make and model; 253 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 76G Marine City MI
- Destination: 76G
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from MTC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N1026K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.