Luscombe 8A accident near Ellinwood, Kansas, July 31, 2013
On July 31, 2013 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N45957, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Ellinwood, Kansas (Ellinwood 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 failed 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
- July 31, 2013 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Ellinwood, Kansas · Ellinwood Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N45957 · registry record · serial 2484
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he lost directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll. The airplane encountered soft ground conditions when it reached the shoulder of the runway. The airplane went into the adjoining field and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there was no malfunction or system failure of the airplane before the accident.
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 takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Wet › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 136 hours in all; 136 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 31, 2012
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,842 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 2012
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1K6 Ellinwood KS at 6:50 pm
- Destination: 1K6 Ellinwood KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,550 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:30 pm from GBD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.