Luscombe 8A accident near Ephratah, New York, July 30, 2022
On July 30, 2022 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N1358K, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Ephratah, New York (Hiserts Airpark INC airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2022 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Ephratah, New York · Hiserts Airpark INC · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N1358K · registry record · serial 4085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After an uneventful preflight inspection and engine start, the pilot took off from the turf runway and was planning on staying in the airport traffic pattern. During the initial climb, about 50 ft above ground level, the engine abruptly lost power and the propeller continued to windmill. The airplane’s low altitude prevented the pilot from troubleshooting except for switching fuel tanks and the application of carburetor heat, which both failed to restart the engine. The airplane touched down hard at the end of the runway, collapsing the gear and causing impact damage to the right wing and engine compartment. Weather at the time of the accident was conducive for the formation of carburetor ice at the glide power setting, but not at a high takeoff power setting. Additionally, the examination of the engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal engine operation. Therefore, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Attain/maintain not possible
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Attain/maintain not possible
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,903 hours in all; 375 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3,509 as pilot in command; 2,420 on instruments
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,335 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 17, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ullman Holdings LLC
The flight
- Runway 27, 2,200 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft; scat at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 12:18 pm from NY0, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KNY0 301618Z AUTO 32011G18KT 10SM SCT041 SCT046 OVC070 22/13 A3008 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on August 21, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memo for Record - FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memo for Record_pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Airframe and Engine Logs Excerpt | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Carburetor Icing Probability Chart | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array_accident Site and Damage | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.