Luscombe 8E accident near Clinton, Michigan, May 20, 1991
On May 20, 1991 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Luscombe 8E, registered N333LR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clinton, Michigan (Markham airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE PILOT DUE TO HEART ATTACK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1991 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Clinton, Michigan · Markham · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8E · all 8Es on the register
- Registration
- N333LR · no longer on the register · serial 5366
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH AND STRUCK A SET OF POWER LINES RUNNING ACROSS THE RUNWAY 347 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON. THE AUTOPSY REVEALED THAT THE PILOT HAD EXPERIENCED A CARDIAC EVENT AND SUBSEQUENTLY EXPIRED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,600 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 43G Belleville MI at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from ARB, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.