Luscombe 8A accident near Macon, Missouri, August 21, 2003
On August 21, 2003 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N25342, was substantially damaged in an accident near Macon, Missouri (Macon-Fower Memorial 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's improper use of the rudder, which resulted in directional control not being maintained during the landing. A factor to the accident was the crosswind gust.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2003 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Macon, Missouri · Macon-Fower Memorial Airport · 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
- N25342 · no longer on the register · serial 1218
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage when it departed off the right side of the runway during the landing rollout. The pilot stated he performed a three-point landing and after touchdown the airplane encountered a "crosswind gust." The pilot reported that the airplane "veered" to the left and he "over controlled" with right rudder input, resulting in the airplane departing the right side of the runway and traveling down an embankment. The pilot stated the airplane impacted a tree and spun 180 degrees before coming to a stop. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the accident flight.
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: 1,323 hours in all; 916 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,254 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 23, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,212 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 2003; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,310 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNK Concordia KS at 5:50 pm
- Destination: K89 Macon MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 3,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from IRK, 22 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.
Other NTSB records under N25342 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.