# NTSB CHI98LA111: Luscombe 8E, N2648K, Jeffersonville, IN, March 21, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 21, 1998, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Jeffersonville, IN
- Coordinates: 38.159255, -86.049438 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1593&lon=-86.0494&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 10841
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA111
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10841/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA111

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control.  The crosswind was a factor.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft

## Analysis

The airplane ground looped while landing on runway 18.  The pilot reported the engine 'stalled' when he attempted to add power to compensate for the loss of directional control.  The airplane traveled off the right side of the runway into a soft grass area.  The pilot reported the local winds were from 225 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 20 knots. Winds reported 17 miles from the accident site were from 300 degrees at 12 knots.

## Factual narrative

On March 21, 1998, at 1200 eastern standard time, a Luscombe 8E, N2648K, operated by a private pilot collided with soft terrain following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 18 (5,500'x100') at the Clark County Airport, Jeffersonville, Indiana.  The pilot was not injured.  The airplane was substantially damaged.  The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.  The flight originated from a private airstrip approximately 5 miles from the Clark County Airport.

The pilot reported that after touching down the airplane was "overpowered by a wind gust."  He reported that he applied power to compensate for the wind, but the "motor stalled."  The pilot reported the engine had not warmed up sufficiently to "recover quickly."  The airplane ground looped and traveled off the right side of the runway into a soft grass area.

The pilot reported the local winds were from 225 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 20 knots.  The winds reported at Sellersburg, Indiana, 17 miles south of the accident site were from 300 degrees at 12 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2648K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2648K-2015-03-27), registration cancelled 2015-03-27, S/N 5375, built 1947 (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: 5375
- Airframe hours: 2858
- Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard E. Dreyer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 1997, 113 hours before
- Departed: PVT, SELLERSBURG, IN
- Destination: JVY
- Airport: JVY, Clark County, runway 18, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 85 total, 75 in this make and model, 61 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SDF, 17 nm away

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.