Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT): Luscombe 8A Silvaire, N37081, fatal accident occurred on June 12, 2024, near South Lake Tahoe, California

• Location: South Lake Tahoe, California 
• Accident Number: WPR24FA195 
• Date & Time: June 12, 2024, 15:25 Local 
• Registration: N37081 
• Aircraft: Luscombe 8A 
• Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
• Defining Event: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) 
• Injuries: 2 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Unknown

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194461/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194461

On June 12, 2024, at 1525 Pacific daylight time, a Luscombe 8A airplane, N37081, 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 pilot and passenger were conducting a cross-country flight in the 65-horsepower, tailwheel equipped airplane to an airport located in mountainous terrain. In-flight photos taken by the passenger showed the airplane at low altitude over the mountains, heading toward higher terrain, about 1/2 mile from the accident site. Accident site signatures were consistent with a collision with trees and subsequent impact with terrain. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

The calculated density altitude at the accident site was about 11,329 ft. Review of the Koch chart using the estimated conditions present at the accident site showed about an 80% decrease in the airplane’s published climb performance under these conditions, which would have resulted in a rate of climb of about 150 ft per minute. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s decision to conduct low-altitude flight into mountainous terrain under density altitude conditions that significantly degraded the airplane’s performance, which resulted in impact with trees and terrain.

- Probable Cause: The pilot’s decision to continue low-altitude flight toward rising mountainous terrain in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in collision with trees and terrain.