Luscombe 8E accident near Dahlonega, Georgia, March 27, 1999
On March 27, 1999 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Luscombe 8E, registered N1766K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dahlonega, Georgia (Lumpkin County-Wimpys airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 1999 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dahlonega, Georgia · Lumpkin County-Wimpys · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8E · all 8Es on the register
- Registration
- N1766K · registry record · serial 24551-6-12
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident occurred during takeoff. The pilot stated that the takeoff run was normal until tailwheel liftoff. At that point, the pilot felt the plane yaw right. The pilot attempted to correct the situation, but realized that the right main wheel was going off the edge of the runway. Once the right main gear departed the runway surface, the pilot decided to exit the runway and continue takeoff on the grass. The airplane subsequently rolled over a drop-off, collided with a fence, and nosed over.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,520 hours in all; 1,114 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,257 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 16, 1998
- Maximum gross weight: 1,480 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9A0 at 8:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,035 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from GVL, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.