- Date
- April 20, 2019, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Bremen, AL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1866BLuscombe 8
- Defining event
- Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190420003129A
- Case key
- 99319
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 delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun, impact with a fence, and a nose-over.
Findings · 3
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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff from a 2,400-ft-long private, grass airstrip, he was concerned the airplane would not clear the wires at the end of the runway, so he aborted the takeoff. The airplane overran the departure end of the runway, crossed a road, and went through a barbed wire fence. Subsequently, the airplane come to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident, the pilot estimated that the wind was from 290° at 8 knots. The pilot was departing from runway 18.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff from a 2,400 ft long private, grass airstrip, he was concerned he would not clear the wires at the end of the runway, and aborted the takeoff. The airplane overran the departure end of the runway, crossed a road, and went through a barbed wire fence. Subsequently, the airplane come to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damaged to the left wing and wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident, the pilot estimated the wind was from 290° at 8 knots. The pilot was departing runway 18.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1866B
- Reported as
- Luscombe 8 (F)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 6293
- Built
- 1948
- Airframe hours
- 5,568.67
- Engine
- Continental C-90-12K, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ronald J Morrison
- Registered owner
- Ronald J Morrison
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 15, 2018
- Departed
- PVT · Bremen, AL
- Destination
- PVT · Bremen, AL
- Airport
- PVT · Private Airport, runway 18, 2,400 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- None
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
- 59
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 29, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 3,500 total · 700 in this make and model · 3,500 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.86 inHg
- Observed at
- KJFX, 14 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 13, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 965 KB 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.