Luscombe 8A accident near Frederick, Maryland, April 18, 1990
On April 18, 1990 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N71231, was substantially damaged in an accident near Frederick, Maryland (Frederick airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND USED EXCESSIVE BRAKING TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 1990 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Frederick, Maryland · Frederick · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N71231 · registry record · serial 3908968
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED HE ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE ACFT VEERED LEFT INTO THE WIND AND THE PLT APPLIED BRAKES TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, BUT HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ACFT NOSED OVER ON THE RWY. THE PLT REPORTED THE EXCESSIVE USE OF BRAKES, WHICH WERE NEWLY INSTALLED, ATTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 785 hours in all; 147 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,998 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 6, 1989; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0W7 Chestertown MD at 3:30 pm
- Destination: FDY Frederick MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:00 pm from IAD, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.