# NTSB FTW00LA124: Luscombe 8C, N25270, Galveston, TX, April 16, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 16, 2000, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Galveston, TX - Coordinates: 29.279451, -94.830398 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2795&lon=-94.8304&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48981 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48981/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA124 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in the pilot attempting to takeoff with the elevator and ailerons locked by the passenger side seatbelt. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - flt control syst,aileron control - locked - flt control syst,elevator control - locked - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot attempted to takeoff in the tailwheel equipped airplane with the co-pilot's seatbelt wrapped around the co-pilot's flight control. After the airplane became airborne, the pilot reduced the engine power and attempted to land on the runway. The airplane impacted the runway with the tail wheel and the right main landing gear first. The right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing impacted the ground. Subsequently, the left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane nosed down. ## Factual narrative On April 16, 2000, at 1400 central daylight time, a Luscombe 8C tail wheel equipped airplane, N25270, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during takeoff initial climb near Galveston, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant and registered owner of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating from the Scholes Field Airport near Galveston, Texas, at the time of the accident. According to the FAA inspector, who visited the accident site, the pilot attempted to takeoff on runway 17 with the co-pilot's seatbelt wrapped around the co-pilot's flight control. The pilot stated that after the airplane became airborne, he reduced the engine power and attempted to land on the runway. The FAA inspector stated that the airplane impacted the runway with the tail wheel and the right main landing gear first. The right main landing gear collapsed and the outboard 5 feet of the right wing was structurally damaged upon impact with the ground. The airplane then impacted the ground with the left main landing gear, which collapsed. The airplane subsequently nosed down, structurally damaging the firewall. Numerous attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) from the pilot were unsuccessful. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25270](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25270-2026-02-14), registration cancelled 2026-02-14, S/N 1177 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8C - Registry model: [Luscombe 8C](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8c) (registry code 8190108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1177 - Engines: Continental C-75 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ralph Scott Royce - Registered owner: Eagle Aero Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: GLS - Airport: GLS, Scholes Feild, runway 17, 6,001 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GLS ## 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 20000416006799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000416006799A), Apr 16, 2000: Luscom 8C, Galveston, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot neglected to remove the previously attached co-pilot's seatbelt from securing the flight controls. It was when the airplane became airborne it was… 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.