- Date
- May 17, 2011, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Spicewood, TX
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- XB-11YLuscombe 8
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 30, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Case key
- 79124
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he and a passenger departed on a flight to practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. He took off mid-field with a tailwind, and during the take off roll, he noticed that the engine was not producing enough power. He continued the take off and soon thereafter, the airplane stalled and collided with trees at the end of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to each wing, the fuselage, and the right elevator. The pilot said the engine was running at the time of impact and there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot told an FAA inspector that he and his passenger departed on runway 35 and planned to practice touch and go landings. He initiated the take off roll from mid-field with a tailwind, and said that the engine was not producing enough power needed to safely depart. The pilot continued the take off and once airborne, the airplane stalled and collided with trees at the end of the runway. The pilot said the engine was running at the time of impact and there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to each wing, the fuselage, and the right elevator. Winds at a nearby airport were reported as wind 160 degrees at 8 knots gusting to 17 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- XB-11Y
- Reported as
- Luscombe 8 (A)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4311
- Engine
- Continental A&C 65, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Guillermo Guzman Guerra
- Registered owner
- Guillermo Guzman Guerra
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 88R · Spicewood, TX
- Destination
- 88R · Spicewood, TX
- Airport
- 88R · Spicewood, runway 35
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Certificates
- Private, Foreign
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown
- Flight hours
- 2,400 total · 65 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 8 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.71 inHg
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 107 KB in all.