Luscombe 8A N45799

Summary

On 30 March 2003 at about 15:00 local time, a Luscombe 8A registered N45799 was involved in an accident near Sturtevant, Wisconsin, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 March 2003 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Sturtevant, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

Sylvania (C89)

Coordinates

42.7033, -87.9589

Aircraft

Luscombe 8A

Registration

N45799

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sturtevant → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI03LA093

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's abrupt liftoff resulting in his failure to maintain adequate airspeed followed by a stall. Also causal was the instructor's inadequate supervision.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was substantially damaged when it stalled and impacted the runway immediately after takeoff. The student pilot reported he applied full power and held the control stick full aft as the takeoff roll began. At approximately 40 miles per hour, just as he was beginning to lower the nose, the airplane "leaped off of the ground into the air," according to the student He added: "The plane was still nose high and began to bleed off airspeed until both wings stalled." The left main landing gear and left wing tip impacted the ground, breaking off the left main gear. The propeller subsequently contacted the pavement and the aircraft came to rest on the left side of the runway facing east. The dual student stated this was his first flight with this instructor. He reported that he had one previous flight in the accident aircraft approximately one month prior to the accident flight. The flight instructor stated that on the morning of the accident flight, he and the student discussed the aircraft and the plan for the flight. The instructor reported that after they took the runway for takeoff, the student gradually increased power to begin the takeoff roll. Within a few seconds, however, the student abruptly applied full power and full aft elevator. He stated the aircraft was almost immediately airborne. The aircraft subsequently stalled and impacted the ground according to the instructor. The instructor stated that he tried to lower the nose but was unable to overpower the student. "The student froze on the controls and didn't relinquish control."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.