# NTSB ERA22LA292: Luscombe 8, N77863, New Market, VA, June 25, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 25, 2022, 10:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place: New Market, VA
- Coordinates: 38.69095, -78.629459 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6910&lon=-78.6295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105383
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA292
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105383/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105383
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA292

## Probable cause

Impact with a fence during an attempted takeoff from a short, uphill turf airstrip.

## 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 8A, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md)
- [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the vintage tailwheel airplane was attempting a takeoff from an uphill 1,550-ft-long turf airstrip, with a 3-knot left-quartering headwind and in an 80° F ambient temperature. The airplane lifted off at the end of the airstrip; however, the right main landing gear and right horizontal stabilizer impacted the top of a 4.5-ft high fence. The airplane then settled into a field on the other side of the fence and during the landing roll, the right main gear impacted a groundhog hole and collapsed. Initial examination of the wreckage revealed substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that the engine sputtered for about 3 seconds before collision with the fence and additional examination of the engine was planned following recovery of the wreckage from the field; however, the pilot did not respond to subsequent requests regarding the disposition of the engine for examination. He also was unable to produce maintenance and pilot logbooks for examination. Whether an engine anomaly may have contributed to the accident could not be determined. Review of the airplane’s owner’s handbook revealed a published takeoff distance of 625 ft on a hard turf surface. More recent publications listed a takeoff ground roll of 1,050 ft; however, none of the data accounted for performance considerations such as an upsloping turf runway, high ambient temperatures, or distance to clear obstacles.

## Factual narrative

On June 25, 2022, about 1020 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8A, N77863, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near New Market, Virginia. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was attempting to take off from a 1,550-ft long, upsloping turf airstrip. At the time of the accident, the prevailing wind was a 3-knot left-quartering headwind, and the ambient temperature was 80°F. The pilot added that, as the airplane lifted off, the engine sputtered for about 3 seconds. The airplane did not gain enough altitude and the right main landing gear and right horizontal stabilizer impacted the top of a 4.5-ft high fence located about 60 ft from the departure end of the runway. The airplane then settled into a field on the other side of the fence and, during the landing roll, the right main landing gear impacted a groundhog hole and collapsed. Initial examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer. Additional examination of the engine was planned following recovery of the wreckage from the field; however, the pilot did not respond to subsequent requests regarding the disposition of the engine for examination. He also was unable to produce maintenance and pilot logbooks for examination. The airplane was manufactured in 1946 and its Owner’s Handbook indicated, “Take-Off Distance – 625 feet on a hard turf surface.” More recent publications listed a takeoff ground roll of 1,050 ft; however, none of the data accounted for an upsloping turf runway, ambient temperature of 80°F, or distance to clear a 4.5-ft obstacle.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N77863](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N77863), registered now, S/N 3590, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8 (A)
- Registry model: [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3590
- Year built: 1946
- Engines: Continental AC 65 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: 9VA4, Franwood Farms Inc Airport, runway 21, 1,550 × 90 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 10,000 total, 10,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observed at: K8W2, 5 nm away
- METAR: METAR K8W2 251415Z AUTO 25003KT 10SM CLR 27/20 A3016

## 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 20220625020399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220625020399A), Jun 25, 2022: Luscombe 8A, New Market, VA, Substantial damage. The 1946 Luscombe 8A aircraft took off, heading south into the wind, from a grass strip runway which had a slight uphill grade, located at 9VA4. 75-100 yards…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105383. 4.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 4 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14315711&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Interview summaries (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14315721&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for the record (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14316116&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Excerpt from owner's handbook (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 385 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14412420&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Luscombe%20Owners%20Handbook-Rel.pdf
- Virginia dept of aviation aircraft accident report (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 265 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14316294&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=VDOT%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Weather report (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14316361&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Metars-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14315858&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.

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