WPR24FA195

Factual narrative

On June 12, 2024, at 1525 Pacific daylight time, N37081, a Luscombe 8A, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near South Lake Tahoe, California. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was a subject of an alert notice (ALNOT) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration due to a concerned family member when the pilot and passenger did not arrive at their intended destination of Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL), South Lake Tahoe, California. Family members reported that they had spoken to the pilot earlier in the day and the pilot indicated that they were running late and would be arriving at TVL around 1530. The airplane was located the following morning by local law enforcement in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest at 8,000 ft mean sea level about 10 miles south of TVL. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane came to rest inverted in a clearing on a magnetic heading of 333° about 75 yards from a service road. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was a 75-ft tall tree that was missing limbs and a portion of the tree trunk, which were located within the debris path. Also in the debris path, about 25 ft from the FIPC, was a portion of the empennage and tail section that was lodged in the top of an approximate 15 ft tall tree. The main wreckage was located about 10 ft beyond the tree. All major structural components of the airplane were located throughout the wreckage debris path. The airplane as recovered to a secure facility for further examination. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Climb rate-Capability exceeded
• — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Temp/humidity/pressure-High density altitude-Effect on operation