# NTSB LAX00LA057: Luscombe 8A, N45886, Gualala, CA, December 26, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 26, 1999, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Gualala, CA - Coordinates: 38.820816, -123.509986 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8208&lon=-123.5100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 14, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48416 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48416/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA057 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to attain and maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall/mush and a collision with the ground. ## 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 - airspeed - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The student pilot lost control of his airplane during the transition between the takeoff roll and the initial climb from the uncontrolled airport. The airport manager, who witnessed the accident, reported that the airplane lifted off the runway and appeared to stall. The airplane rolled left, impacted terrain, and cartwheeled. The student had not received written flight instructor authorization to operate from the airport, and the student's last 90-day logbook endorsement had expired 3 months earlier. ## Factual narrative On December 26, 1999, about 1330 hours Pacific standard time, a Luscombe 8A, N45886, owned and operated by the pilot, descended back to the ground during the takeoff initial climb from the Ocean Ridge Airport, Gualala, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flight that was being performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was substantially damaged upon impacting terrain on the airport. Neither the student pilot nor passenger was injured. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident as a flight to Sonoma, California. The manager of the uncontrolled airport witnessed the accident. He reported that the airplane lifted off from runway 13, and thereafter it appeared to stall. The airplane rolled left, impacted terrain, and cartwheeled. The pilot had previously soloed from the Sonoma Skypark Airport. Copies of records provided by the pilot indicated that on June 22, 1999, his student pilot certificate was endorsed by a flight instructor authorizing solo flight in the Luscombe 8A. The student did not provide any logbook evidence indicating he had been authorized to solo from the Ocean Ridge Airport. The pilot's student certificate did not bear an endorsement for solo cross-country flight. The student's last 90-day logbook endorsement authorizing solo flight was dated June 22, 1999. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45886](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N45886), registered now, S/N 2413, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8A - 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: 2413 - Airframe hours: 3000 - Engines: Continental C90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John E. Caldwell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1999, 36 hours before - Departed: Q69 - Destination: OQ9, SONOMA, CA - Airport: Q69, Gualala, runway 13, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 255 total, 137 in this make and model, 78 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 142 °F, dew point 109 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: STS, 38 nm away ## 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 19991226045039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991226045039A), Dec 26, 1999: Luscom 8A, Gualala, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted]stalled the a/c on takeoff. Right wing struck ground first. A/c ground looped. [privacy data omitted]Was attempting to depart Q69,… ## Other investigations on N45886 (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR26LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA251), Jul 7, 2026: Luscombe 8A (N45886), Novato, CA, substantial damage, investigation ongoing 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.