NTSB Factual Report

On October 18, 2003, about 1530 Pacific daylight time, a Luscombe 8E airplane, N1806K, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with a fence while landing at the Spanaway Airport, Spanaway, Washington. The airplane is registered to the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot sustained serious injuries, and the one passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on October 22, the pilot reported that during landing approach, just before touchdown, the airplane's tail wheel caught the top of a chain link fence that runs perpendicular to runway 16. He stated that the airplane consequently impacted terrain and nosed over. The pilot stated that he might have been a little low while on final approach.

In a subsequent written report dated October 28, the pilot stated that he encountered turbulence, downdrafts and wind shear while on final approach to the runway.

The pilot reported that the winds were from the south at 12 knots when the accident occurred.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude resulting in an undershoot of the runway and collision with a fence. A fence was a factor in the accident.