# NTSB WPR26LA251: Luscombe 8A, N45886, Novato, CA, July 7, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: July 7, 2026, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Novato, CA · KDVO
- Coordinates: 38.147964, -122.5603
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1480&lon=-122.5603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203355
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA251
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203355/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA251

## Preliminary report

On July 7, 2026, about 1200 Pacific daylight time, a Luscombe 8A, N45886, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Novato, California. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. While conducting touch-and-go takeoff and landings on runway 31 at Gnoss Field (DVO), Novato, California, the engine experienced a partial loss of power during the departure climb about 600 ft above ground level. As the pilot attempted to return to the departure runway, he applied carburetor heat and the engine briefly regained power before experiencing a total loss of power. The pilot then moved the fuel selector from the wing tanks to the fuselage tank; however, he was unable to restart the engine. Subsequently, the airplane touched down in an area of soft gravel about 10 ft short of runway 13, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid about 20 ft before it came to rest upright. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that both wings sustained substantial damage. The airplane was recovered for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## 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
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 3872
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 2026, 48 hours before
- Departed: DVO, Novato, CA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: DVO, Gnoss Fld, runway 13, 3,303 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,900 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: KDVO, 1 nm away
- METAR: METAR KDVO 071855Z AUTO 25008G14KT 210V280 10SM BKN019 18/13 A3005 RMK AO2

## 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 LAX00LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA057), Dec 26, 1999: Luscombe 8A (N45886), Gualala, CA, substantial damage. 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.

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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