- Date
- April 15, 1997, 17:50 local (22:50 UTC)
- Place
- Wautoma, WI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N26SHLuscombe 8E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 25, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970415005969A
- Case key
- 10550
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 improper use of the throttle. Factors were a crosswind and soft terrain.
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
In his statement, the pilot indicated that the fourth touch & go landing 'Took awhile to get the plane on its mains because of the gusty conditions.' He said that when the power was advanced 'the engine sputtered. Pushed in carburetor heat. Still sputtered. Pumped throttle, still sputtered.' He next 'Put the tail down, and started breaking.' During the aborted takeoff roll the aircraft 'Ran off the end of 13 into a freshly plowed [soft] sandy field. The main wheels dug in and the plane went on to its back.' The airplane came to rest approximately 420 feet past the end of runway 13 inverted. Subsequently the pilot said, 'I believe I pushed power in to fast and flooded engine. Pumping throttle made it worse.'
Factual narrative
On April 15, 1997, at 1750 central daylight time a Luscombe 8E, N26SH, sustained substantial damage during an overrun on landing on runway 13 (3,300' x 60' dry/asphalt) at Wautoma Municipal Airport, near Wautoma, Wisconsin. The private pilot reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed Ripon, Wisconsin, at 1730.
In a written statement, the pilot wrote that he left a private strip near Ripon, Wisconsin at 1730 central daylight time, to preform in touch and go's at Wautoma Municipal Airport. Upon arrival, he flew over the airport and entered the pattern for runway 13. The pilot reported that, "I flew a normal pattern and set the plane on its main wheels almost at the center point of 13." He said it, "Took awhile to get the plane on its mains because of the gusty conditions." He said, when the power was advanced, "the engine sputtered. Pushed in carburetor heat. Still sputtered. Pumped throttle, still sputtered." The pilot reported that he next, "Put the tail down, and started breaking." During the aborted takeoff roll the aircraft, "Ran off the end of 13 into a freshly plowed [soft] sandy field. The main wheels dug in and the plane went on to its back." The airplane came to rest approximately 420 feet past the end of runway 13 inverted. Subsequently the pilot said, "I believe I pushed power in to fast and flooded engine. Pumping throttle made it worse."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N26SH
- Reported as
- Luscombe 8E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 26SH
- Airframe hours
- 2,000
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- David A. Johnson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 30, 1996 · 11 hours before
- Departed
- WI67 · Ripon, WI
- Destination
- Y50
- Airport
- Y50 · Wautoma, runway 13, 3,600 × 20 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 750 total · 75 in this make and model · 750 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 15 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KOS, 20 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.