- Date
- July 21, 2004, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Merrill, WI
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N45628Luscombe 8A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 29, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-Milwaukee FSDO
- FAA report
- 20040721028219A
- Case key
- 59883
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 dual student's failure to maintain directional control during the initial climb after takeoff and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. A contributing factor was that all available runway was not used for takeoff due to the touch-and-go operation. An additional factor was the swamp terrain encountered.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The single-engine tail-wheel equipped airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after takeoff. The flight instructor reported that he and a dual student were practicing takeoffs and landings with a left crosswind of approximately 8 miles per hour. During the fourth takeoff, the student lifted off with "near perfect" directional control, however, the aircraft subsequently yawed 30 to 40 degrees to the right at which time the student released the controls. The flight instructor stated that he immediately assumed the controls and applied full left rudder. He reported that the aircraft settled into ground effect. He held the plane in ground effect in an attempt to gain airspeed, however, the aircraft subsequently settled into a swamp area beyond the end of the runway. The flight instructor and dual student reported no known malfunction of the aircraft or engine prior to the accident. At 1835, the RRL automated weather observing system recorded winds from 250 degrees at 5 knots.
Factual narrative
On July 21, 2004, approximately 1830 central daylight time, a Luscombe 8A, N45628, piloted by a flight instructor and dual student, sustained substantial damage during a in-flight collision with terrain after takeoff from runway 34 (2,997 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at the Merrill Municipal Airport (RRL), Merrill, Wisconsin. The instructional flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight instructor and dual student reported no injuries. The local flight departed RRL about 1800 and was conducting touch-and-goes in the traffic pattern when the accident occurred.
The flight instructor reported that they were practicing takeoffs and landings with a left crosswind of approximately 8 miles per hour. He stated that after completing the third landing, the student applied full power and lifted off with "near perfect" directional control. He noted that the aircraft subsequently yawed 30 to 40 degrees to the right at which point the student released the controls.
The flight instructor stated that he immediately assumed the controls, verified full throttle and applied full left rudder. He noted that the aircraft settled into ground effect. He reportedly held the plane in ground effect in an attempt to gain airspeed, however, the aircraft subsequently settled in a swamp area beyond the end of the runway.
The flight instructor and dual student reported no known malfunction of the aircraft or engine prior to the accident.
At 1835, the RRL automated weather observing system recorded winds from 250 degrees at 5 knots, under clear skies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N45628
- Reported as
- Luscombe 8A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2155
- Airframe hours
- 2,209
- Engine
- Continental A-65-8, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2004 · 24 hours before
- Departed
- RRL · Merrill, WI
- Destination
- RRL
- Airport
- RRL · Merrill Muni, runway 34, 2,997 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 57
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- February 4, 2003
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 6,947 total · 45 in this make and model · 6,947 as pilot in command · 65 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 16
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Student
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 9 total · 9 in this make and model · 9 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.71 inHg
- Observed at
- RRL
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.