Luscombe 8A accident near Boerne, Texas, September 28, 2023
On September 28, 2023 at about 11:31 am local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N71804, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Boerne, Texas (Boerne Stage Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2023 · about 11:31 am local time
- Place
- Boerne, Texas · Boerne Stage Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N71804 · registry record · serial 3231
- 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 his feet become entangled in the rudder pedals and he inadvertently applied brake pressure. The airplane veered left and the pilot unsuccessfully attempted to regain directional control with opposite rudder and increased engine power. Airport surveillance cameras recorded the airplane depart the runway surface, bounce, and impact a hangar, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot did not return the National Transportation Safety Board 6120.1/2 form.
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 (landing roll) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,006 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 6:26 am from KSAT, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSAT 281126Z 00000KT 10SM SCT022 24/22 A2997 RMK AO2 T02440217
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on February 1, 2024. 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 | Memorandum for Record A�� 6120 Not Received | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Video File - Airport Surveillance Camera - Approach & Initial Landing Roll | video | View Download |
| 5 | Video File - Airport Surveillance Camera - Landing Roll & Hangar Impact | video | 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.