Perry, OK, USA
N2789K
LUSCOMBE 8E
The 85-year old pilot was on his third flight of the day. After boarding the airplane, he reported sitting in the airplane for a "lengthy" period of time waiting for an engine start by hand-propping the airplane. He recalled adding full power for takeoff and then "everything went black." He was unable to recall any further details of the event. A witness reported about 400-500 feet from takeoff the airplane veered off the runway, crossed an open area, a closed diagonal runway, a taxiway and ran into a drainage ditch. The witness stated it did not appear the pilot made any control inputs after applying full power. The heat index was 105° F. Based on the information and the extreme heat, it is likely that the pilot blacked out due to heat exhaustion.
On July 21, 2015, about 1925 central daylight time, a Luscombe L8 airplane, N2789K, departed the right side of the runway during takeoff, and impacted a ditch at Perry Municipal Airport (F22) in Perry, Oklahoma. The commercial rated pilot was seriously injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was being operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. According to the 85-year old pilot, he had taken two separate trips round the pattern at the airport the day of the accident. Prior to the accident flight, he was sitting in the airplane for a "lengthy" period of time waiting for the engine to be started, by hand-propping the airplane. The heat index was 105º F. He recalled taxiing to the end of the runway and pushing the throttle forward, then he reported "everything going black." He had no further recollection of events. A witness reported the airplane taxied to the end of the runway, the engine went to "full throttle" and the airplane proceeded down the runway. About 400-500 feet from takeoff the airplane veered off the runway, crossed an open area, a closed diagonal runway, a taxiway and ran into a drainage ditch. The witness said there was no indication of braking, steering or an attempted liftoff. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted an on-scene examination of the airplane wreckage after the accident. The inspector stated the engine throttle control was observed in the full throttle position during his exam.
The pilot's incapacitation and subsequent loss of airplane control due to heat exhaustion.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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