# NTSB CEN11CA342: Luscombe 8, Spicewood, TX, May 17, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 17, 2011, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Spicewood, TX
- Coordinates: 30.473333, -98.119445 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4733&lon=-98.1194&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 30, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79124
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA342
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79124/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79124
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA342

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8 (A)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4311
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 52; 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 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79124. 107 KB in all.

- Record of Conversation with FAA (item 1, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350125&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA-Master.PDF

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.

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