# Accident 20260419007099A: Luscombe 8E, Meeker, CO, April 19, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 19, 2026, 10:40 local time
- Place: Meeker, CO
- Airport: Meeker Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.7330° N, 108.1432° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7330&lon=-108.1432&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1398K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1398K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Luscombe 8E (registry code 8190112, https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8E
- Reported engine: CONTINENTAL O-200-A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 732 total, 433 in this make and model, 94 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA169) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260419007099A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON APRIL 19, 2026 A PILOT FLYING A LUSCOMBE. 8E, WITH REGISTRATION NUMBER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED A PRIVATE GRASS STRIP APPROXIMATELY 23NM TO THE SOUTH OF KEEO ENROUTE TO KGJT. THE PILOT SELECTED A DOWNHILL DEPARTURE FOR A SHORTER PERFORMANCE TAKEOFF AND TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CONTINUALLY LOWERING TERRAIN TO EXIT THE VALLEY. DURING THE PILOT’S SHORT-FIELD TAKEOFF, THE PILOT ROTATED THE AIRCRAFT AND AS THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO LEAVE GROUND EFFECT, THE VSI INDICATED A DOWNWARD-TRENDING CLIMB RATE. THE PILOT THEN PITCHED THE AIRCRAFT FORWARD, MAINTAINING A VX AIRSPEED. THE PILOT THEN QUICKLY REALIZED FROM HIS VSI, THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS STILL DESCENDING AT ROUGHLY 300-400FPM AT AROUND 30 FEET AGL. REALIZING THAT THE AIRCRAFT WITH CAUGHT IN WINDSHEAR AND DUE TO THE AIRCRAFT NOT BEING ABLE TO OUTCLIMB THE DOWNDRAFT/WINDSHEAR, THE PILOT OPTED FOR A STRAIGHT-AHEAD, OFF-AIRPORT, FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT THEN MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT AWAY FROM A RAVINE, THAT HAD BEEN NOTED IN THE PRE-TAKEOFF EMERGENCY BRIEF AND MADE THE DECISION TO MAKE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING WITH AS LITTLE ENERGY AS POSSIBLE. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN IN A THREE-POINT CONFIGURATION IN TALL/THICK SAGEBRUSH. THE AIRCRAFT EVENTUALLY NOSED OVER, COMING TO REST UPSIDE DOWN. BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WALKED AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT UNHARMED AND WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN26LA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA169), Apr 19, 2026: Luscombe 8E (N1398K), Meeker, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain climb performance and clearance from terrain due to the airplane’s encounter with windshear during takeoff.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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