Luscombe 8A accident near Ellinwood, Kansas, December 13, 2021
On December 13, 2021 at about 8:15 pm local time, a 1946 Luscombe 8A, registered N1616K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Ellinwood, Kansas (Ellinwood Muni 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 improper brake application during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 2021 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ellinwood, Kansas · Ellinwood Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A NO SERIES, built 1946 · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N1616K · registry record · serial 4343
- 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 during the landing roll on dry grass, the brakes “locked up” and “over we went.” The airplane came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing lift strut. The pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration after the accident that the brakes worked better than he expected, and there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the brakes and that both wheels spun freely. A postaccident examination of the accident site showed no signs of disturbed terrain prior to the location of where the airplane came to rest inverted.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, sport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 20,000 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 14, 2020
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,525.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 14, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors A-80 Series (piston); 2,582 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OK15 Oolagah OK at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from KGBD, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGBD 131956Z AUTO 15009KT 10SM CLR 13/M03 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP163 T01331033
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 27, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Federal Aviation Administration - Aviation Safety Inspector Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.