On October 6, 1990, a Luscombe 8A (registration N45606) operated by Cunningham, Ray was involved in an aviation accident near Ashland, KS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to pull the aircraft into a nose-high attitude during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During initial climb, the pilot pulled the aircraft into a nose-high attitude and reported that the engine quit. The aircraft departed controlled flight and collided with the terrain before the pilot could regain control.
What happened
During the initial climb phase of flight, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft into a nose-high pitch attitude. At this point, the pilot reported that the engine ceased operation. Following the loss of power, the aircraft departed controlled flight and subsequently collided with the terrain. The impact occurred before the pilot was able to regain control of the airplane.
The investigation
A subsequent mechanical inspection of the airframe and propulsion system was conducted to determine the cause of the in-flight engine failure. Investigators examined the components for signs of malfunction or pre-impact damage that could have contributed to the event.
Findings
The post-accident examination revealed nothing of a mechanical nature which would have prevented normal flight operations. The absence of mechanical anomalies suggests that the engine failure was not caused by a detectable internal fault at the time of the incident.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to pull the aircraft into a nose-high attitude during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control.