# NTSB CEN13CA042: Luscombe 8E, N2368K, West Bend, WI, November 3, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 3, 2012, 12:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: West Bend, WI - Coordinates: 43.416942, -89.804168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4169&lon=-89.8042&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85498 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85498/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85498 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA042 ## Probable cause The pilot‘s failure to maintain clearance from power lines at the end of the short runway, which resulted in an aborted takeoff and subsequent nose-over of the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8E, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8190112), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: takeoff distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md?model=8190112), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Luscombe 8E, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8190112), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8E, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=8190112), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed a 1,500-foot-long grass runway in calm wind conditions and was unable to gain enough altitude to clear power lines at the end of the runway. He aborted the takeoff and landed in a plowed field near the departure end of the runway. The airplane nosed over on landing damaging the vertical stabilizer, the right wing tip, both main landing gear, and the propeller. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. He said the accident could have been prevented if he had waited for better wind conditions or extended the takeoff roll to gain additional airspeed. ## Factual narrative The pilot departed a 1,500 foot-long grass runway in calm wind conditions and was unable to gain enough altitude to clear power lines at the end of the runway. He aborted the takeoff and landed in a plowed field near the departure end of the runway. The airplane nosed over on landing damaging the vertical stabilizer, the right wing tip, both main landing gear and the propeller. The pilot reported there were no mechanical problems with the airplane or engine. He said the accident could have been prevented if he had waited for better wind conditions and/or extended the takeoff roll to gain additional airspeed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2368K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2368K), registered now, S/N 5095 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8E - Registry model: [Luscombe 8E](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8e) (registry code 8190112) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5095 - Airframe hours: 2351 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: S & S Aero Works LLC - Registered owner: S & S Aero Works LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 22, 2012 - Departed: None, West Bend, WI - Destination: HXF, Hartford, WI - Airport: None, Private, runway 09, 1,200 × 60 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 702 total, 2 in this make and model, 114 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: ETB, 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 20121103024049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121103024049A), Nov 3, 2012: Luscombe 8E, Horicon, WI, Substantial damage. On November 3, 2012, at 1240 cdst a luscome 8E, N2368K, ground looped after an aborted takeoff from a private strip near horican, WI. The commerical rated… ## Other investigations on N2368K (2) 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 OAK65F0037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK65F0037), Apr 26, 1965: Luscombe 8E (N2368K), Fresno, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB OAK65F0038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK65F0038), Mar 30, 1965: Luscombe 8E (N2368K), Concord, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 6, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85498. 565 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 565 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383035&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.