Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Luscombe 8F, N2054B: Fatal accident occurred July 16, 2021 in Comstock, Val Verde County, Texas

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas

Ryan N. Mudry


Location: Comstock, TX 
Accident Number: CEN21FA327
Date & Time: July 16, 2021, 00:00 Local 
Registration: N2054B
Aircraft: Luscombe 8F
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On July 16, 2021, at an unknown time, a Luscombe 8F, N2054B, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Comstock, Texas. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries. 

The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.

The airplane departed from Del Rio International Airport (DRT), Del Rio, Texas. On July 18, 2021, a landowner found the airplane in a field, that was located about 20 miles north-northwest of DRT, while checking the field’s fence. There were no witnesses that reported seeing the accident.

The airplane was resting inverted and had an approximate tail-to-nose heading of 202°. The propeller, located several feet forward of the airplane nose, exhibited chordwise scratching consistent with rotation. The propeller to airframe heading was about 022°. Ground scarring was limited to the areas under the propeller and the airframe. There was no ground scarring across the field. The airplane had substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage.

The airplane nose and both wings exhibited an approximate crush angle of 90°. The airplane wings, rudder, empennage, and all control surfaces were located with the fuselage at the accident site. Both wing flaps were retracted. The engine crankcase was broken open and several of the internal engine components were near the nose of the airplane. The tachometer indicator gauge needle was deformed along the tachometer face. The tachometer indicated about 2,600 rpm.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Luscombe
Registration: N2054B
Model/Series: 8F
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation: DRT,1002 ft msl 
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site: 
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: 
Visibility:
Altimeter Setting: 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Del Rio, TX (DRT)
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal 
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 29.640618,-101.06117

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290.

Ryan Nicholas Mudry
February 20, 1987 - July 18, 2021
~

Ryan Nicholas Mudry, age 34, entered into rest on Sunday, July 18, 2021 in Del Rio, Texas. He was born on February 20, 1987.

Services are pending.


11 comments:

  1. Photo of the Luscombe from 1994:

    https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1549587

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  2. "NBC 5 News
    One person was found dead when the wreckage of a small plane was discovered on a ranch in rural West Texas, authorities said.
    Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez said Monday that a landowner found the wreckage of the private plane on Sunday and called the sheriff’s office.
    Authorities said the wreckage was found near Comstock, which is about 30 miles northwest of Del Rio.
    Val Verde County is located on the border with Mexico."
    Copyright Associated Press

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  3. I trust this accident will be thoroughly investigated. The pilot was well qualified in numerous aircraft, least of which was the Luscombe. It sounds like a catastrophic air frame failure or otherwise, perhaps a controls failure. Other Luscombe owners would be well advised to pay close attention to the details forthcoming from the various investigative agencies.

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    1. The pilot was very experienced in this airplane. This was the plane he learned to fly in.Would like to know how long this investigation will take.

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  4. This Luscombe was not equipped with flaps, only ailerons.

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    Replies
    1. Luscombe Flyer. This is the parents of the pilot who was flying this plane. Any ideas what might have happened? Thanks

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  5. Luscombe Flyer , we are the parents of the pilot who was flying this plane. Any ideas what might have happen?

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    1. First, let me say I was terribly saddened to hear about this accident. Ryan was such a terrific guy. When I first heard of the accident, there was not any detailed information posted so I speculated it must have been a catastrophic failure of a key component; air frame or engine. It would only be speculation on my part for me to say, as I am not an investigator; just a Luscombe owner and friend of Ryan's. However, as an owner, I would be extremely interested in the root cause. With the latest information charted, I will note this about the accident. All the air frame components were reported to be present at the accident site, so apparently there was nothing missing. Although it is probably not uncommon to find the engine was damaged in this sort of accident, I find it suspect that the engine case was fractured open with internal components outside the engine case. Ryan had this engine major overhauled about 2-3 years ago as I recall. The incidence of a fractured case could certainly happen more often than I am aware. So, I would like to know more details and information concerning the engine components. The FAA and NTSB will have to make their determination after they have completed their investigation. And, I will be awaiting that result. I am truly sorry for your loss.

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  6. Thank you for your opinion on this . We have been trying to figure out what could have gone wrong. Ryan , like I said before, grew up in that plane. In the preliminary report, it explained that the tach was at 2600 rpm. Is the luscombe a fly by wire airplane. Could one of the control wires broke and cause it to nose dive into the ground. Once again, I am out of my league when it comes to this stuff. Can I asked, how do you know Ryan? We appreciate once the information you have given us. We hope that the investigation will give us some closure. Thanks ,parents of a luscombe flyer

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  7. Fly by wire refers to a flight control system wherein the airplane controls are typically operated remotely by electrical servo units, or small electric motors located around or near the individual controls, wings and tails surfaces. The Luscombe Airplane is controlled by actual steel control cables hard connected from the control sticks in the cockpit to the flight controls on the wings and tail. In this aircraft they were likely multi strand steel wire cables approximately 1/8"-3/16" in diameter which controlled the ailerons, the rudder, and the elevator. I lived in the Middle TN area for about 8 years and was a member of a club, along with Ryan, just east of Nashville; you know the one. I would like to say more, but this is not the right place to go further. However, I'd be glad to speak to you more if you wish. I would suggest you contact the previous club president, Dan, who I spoke to just recently where Ryan was a member, and he can give you my contact information. Otherwise, I can contact him and secure your information from him. You can let me know here.

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  8. That sounds good . We will do that. Once again we appreciate the information. What ever we find out can’t bring Ryan back. This is the hardest thing that his mother and I have ever faced. He touch so many people. I will try to get a hold of Dan and pass our contact information to. Thank you so much

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