What happened
On June 12, 2024, at 15:25 Pacific daylight time, a Luscombe 8A, registration N37081, was involved in an accident near South Lake Tahoe, California. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
The flight was the subject of an FAA alert notice (ALNOT) after family members reported that the pilot and passenger had not arrived at Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL) as expected. Earlier that day, the pilot had informed family that they were running late and anticipated arriving at TVL around 15:30.
The following morning, local law enforcement located the aircraft in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest at an elevation of 8,000 feet, approximately 10 miles south of TVL. The accident resulted in 2 fatalities.
The investigation
Investigators examined the accident site and found the aircraft resting inverted in a clearing at a magnetic heading of 333°, roughly 75 yards from a service road. The debris path included a 75-foot tall tree that had lost limbs and a portion of its trunk. Approximately 25 feet from the first point of contact, a section of the empennage and tail was found lodged in a 15-foot tall tree. The main wreckage was situated about 10 feet beyond that tree. All major structural components of the aircraft were distributed throughout the debris path. The aircraft was moved to a secure facility for further examination.