- Date
- June 9, 2012, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Selinsgrove, PA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2052KLuscombe 8E
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 26, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120609012739A
- Case key
- 84021
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 failure to maintain airplane control during the takeoff.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the airplane suddenly veered to the left during the takeoff roll and that he was unable to stop the airplane before it departed the left side of the runway. A witness at the airport observed the airplane airborne over the grass area between the runway and taxiway, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane then bounced on the right and left main landing gears before coming to rest on the grass. The airplane's right wing was substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that the airplane suddenly veered to the left during the takeoff roll and he was unable to stop before it departed the left side of the runway. A witness at the airport observed the airplane airborne over the grass area between the runway and taxiway, when the right wing struck the ground. The airplane then bounced on the right and left main landing gears, before coming to rest on the grass. The airplane's right wing was substantially damaged. Post accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2052K
- Reported as
- Luscombe 8E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4779
- Airframe hours
- 2,823
- Engine
- Cont Motor C85 SERIES, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 14, 2011
- Departed
- SEG · Selinsgrove, PA
- Destination
- SEG · Selinsgrove, PA
- Airport
- SEG · Penn Valley, runway 17, 4,760 × 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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 30, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 353 total · 139 in this make and model · 201 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- SEG
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2052K · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.