Incident Overview
On June 3, 2017, at approximately 1030 mountain daylight time, a Luscombe 8E airplane, registration N1627K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rexburg, Idaho. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported departing with 9 gallons of fuel in the right-wing tank and 8 gallons in the left-wing tank. After about one hour of flight, he returned to Rexburg-Madison County Airport (RXE) and entered the traffic pattern for runway 17. While on final approach, the pilot "felt a little low" and applied throttle, but there was no response from the engine. He actuated the fuel primer twice, but engine power did not increase. The pilot subsequently landed short of the runway, and the airplane collided with bushes and a fence before coming to rest in the South Teton River.
Post-Accident Examination
The airplane was removed from the river by a local landowner. Shortly after recovery, the airplane was flipped over by wind gusts. The wreckage remained inverted for five days before a post-accident examination. The examination revealed substantial damage to the aft fuselage and wings. No fuel was detected in the wing tanks or gascolator. No other preimpact anomalies were noted during the examination.