Accident Luscombe 8A N71330, Sunday 19 August 1990

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Date:	Sunday 19 August 1990
Time:	12:15 LT
Type:	Luscombe 8A
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N71330
MSN:	2757
Total airframe hrs:	1956 hours
Engine model:	Continental A 65-8
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Tucson, AZ - United States of America
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
A LUSCOMBE 8A LOSS CONTROL AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE AND A PASSENGER WERE CONDUCTING AN AERIAL SEARCH FOR THE PASSENGER'S MISSING RADIO CONTROLLED MODEL AIRPLANE. THE MODEL AIRPLANE WAS SPOTTED FROM ABOUT 1,500 FEET AGL. THE PILOT WAS MAKING A LOW PASS TO PINPOINT THE LOCATION OF THE MODEL AIRPLANE. THE PILOT STATED, 'WHEN I MADE THE FINAL TURN TO FLY BY THE MODEL I STALLED INTO A GROVE OF MESQUITE TREES.' THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AND STRUCK A TREE WITH THE RIGHT WING. THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED 180 DEGREES AND STRUCK THE GROUND TAIL FIRST.

Probable Cause: THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER PITCH ATTITUDE AND AIRSPEED TO AVOID AN AERODYNAMIC STALL.

Accident investigation: