Luscombe LL-8-F accident near Carrollton, Ohio, September 5, 1997
On September 5, 1997 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Luscombe LL-8-F, registered N1871K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carrollton, Ohio. 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
The pilot's inadequate preflight which resulted in fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1997 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Carrollton, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe LL-8-F
- Registration
- N1871K · no longer on the register · serial 4598
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was 25 minutes into a 35 minute flight when the engine sputtered. His attempts to restart were unsuccessful, and a forced landing was performed to a small, rough field. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA Inspector revealed no evidence of fuel. The pilot reported that he had refueled the airplane prior to takeoff, but was unable to provide the receipts. He voluntarily surrendered his commercial pilot's certificate and voluntarily downgrade to a private certificate in lieu of a check ride.
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: 3,038 hours in all; 2,083 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 3,038 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,252 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1997; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2G7 New Castle PA at 6:45 pm
- Destination: TSO OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
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.