GRANTSVILLE, UT, USA
N71646
LUSCOMBE 8E
THE ACFT WAS 1 OF 3 THAT WERE LNDD ON A GRAVEL ROAD NEAR A TRUCK STOP WHERE THE OCCUPANTS HAD BREAKFAST. DRG DEPARTURE, THE 1ST 2 ACFT TOOK OFF WITHOUT INCIDENT. WITNESSES RPRTD THAT WHEN THE 3RD ACFT (N71646) TOOK OFF, THE PLT BEGAN A LEFT TURN AT ABOUT 75' AGL, THEN THE ACFT BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE. THE PLT STATED THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED 'ENOUGH TAILWIND AND/OR DOWNDRAFT (DUE TO FREEWAY ELEVATION) TO CAUSE LOSS OF AIRSPEED.' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT DSCNDD & CRASHED ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING. ONE OCCUPANT WAS A 3-1/2 YEAR OLD CHILD, WHICH WAS BEING HELD ON HIS MOTHER'S LAP WHEN THE ACFT TOOK OFF. HE RECEIVED A FATAL HEAD INJURY DRG THE OCCURRENCE. THE PLT INDICATED THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTH OR NORTHEASTAT 10 TO 15 KTS, BUT SAID THE WINDSOCK (ON A NEARBY BUILDING) WAS HANGING LIMP. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APRX 6400'.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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