# NTSB CEN11CA547: Luscombe 8, N2844K, Poplar Grove, IL, July 23, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 23, 2011, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Poplar Grove, IL - Coordinates: 42.322776, -88.836387 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3228&lon=-88.8364&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81396 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA547 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81396/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81396 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA547 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to not use all available runway length and his failure to abort the takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031000/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Course deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to perform a midfield takeoff with approximately 1,800 feet of runway remaining. During the departure, the airplane was unable to clear the trees at the departure end of the runway so the pilot executed a right turn to the north. As he made the turn, he realized that there were power lines so he performed an off-airport landing sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and the left side of the fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation and said the accident could have been prevented if he had used the entire runway. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he attempted a midfield takeoff with approximately 1,800 feet of runway remaining, but the airplane was unable to clear the trees at the departure end of the runway. The pilot executed a right turn to the north but was unable to clear power lines that were along the airplane's course so he performed an off airport landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and the left side of the fuselage. The Federal Aviation Administration stated that the pilot and passenger each weighed over 200 lbs and that it was a hot afternoon at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2844K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2844K-2013-02-21), registration cancelled 2013-02-21, S/N 5571, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8 (A) - Registry model: [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5571 - Airframe hours: 2239 - Engines: Continental 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 2010 - Departed: C77, Poplar Grove, IL - Destination: C77, Poplar Grove, IL - Airport: C77, Poplar Grove Airport, runway 30, 3,773 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; last flight review July 1, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 80 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F - Observed at: RFD, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20110723016659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110723016659A), Jul 23, 2011: Luscombe 8A, Poplar Grove, IL, Substantial damage. Flight was the second flight of the day. First flight was a ride for wife's uncle. Pilot utilized full length of runway 27 (2709 feet). Accident flight was a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 16, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81396. 451 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 402 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354035&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354036&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.