Luscombe 8E accident near Coalville, Utah, April 13, 1994
On April 13, 1994 at about 9:05 pm local time, a Luscombe 8E, registered N2728K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coalville, Utah (None airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE CONNECTING ROD. FACTORS INCLUDE THE ROUGH UNEVEN TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1994 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- Coalville, Utah · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8E · all 8Es on the register
- Registration
- N2728K · no longer on the register · serial 5455
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE CONNECTING ROD TO THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER FAILED, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER. THE INTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO MAKE IT TO A DIRT STRIP FOR A FORCED LANDING. HE LANDED SHORT, AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,400 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 2,200 as pilot in command; 465 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,625 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 1994; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 36U Heber UT at 8:45 pm
- Destination: Evanston WY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from SLC, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.