Luscombe 8 accident near Rose Hill, Kansas, July 14, 2013
On July 14, 2013 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Luscombe 8, registered N1837B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Rose Hill, Kansas (Cook Airfield). 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's inadequate compensation for the crosswind, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2013 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rose Hill, Kansas · Cook Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8 · all 8s on the register
- Registration
- N1837B · registry record · serial 6264
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he entered the traffic pattern for runway 17. The wind was favoring runway 19, a turf runway, but he thought the recent rains may have made the runway soft. As he landed the tailwheel airplane on runway 17, the wind switched from the south to the west. The airplane turned to the southwest; he added full left rudder and added power. He was unable to stop the turn and the airplane ground looped. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,142 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,109 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 18, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 901 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 24, 2013
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C90 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K50 Rose Hill KS
- Destination: K50 Rose Hill KS
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 17, 2,507 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; a few clouds
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.