Luscombe 8F accident near Newburg, Maryland, December 23, 1984
On December 23, 1984 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Luscombe 8F, registered N836B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newburg, Maryland (Aqualand/Xlifton Skypark 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 1984 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Newburg, Maryland · Aqualand/Xlifton Skypark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8F · all 8Fs on the register
- Registration
- N836B · registry record · serial 6768
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LDG ROLL THE PIC FELT A VIBRATION AS THE TAILWHEEL CONTACTED THE RWY. IN AN EFFORT TO MINIMIZE THE VIBRATION THE PLT LIFTED THE TAILWHEEL OFF THE RWY. THE ACFT BEGAN TO GROUND LOOP TO THE RIGHT TOWARD A POLE. HEAVY APPLICATION OF THE WHEEL BRAKES CAUSED THE ACFT TO NOSE OVER TO AN INVERTED POSITION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,800 hours in all; 1,020 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 3,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 22, 1984; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W32 Clinton MD at 2:15 pm
- Destination: 2W8 Newburg MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,165 ft by 36 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from DCA, 29 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.