Luscombe 8A accident near Merrill, Wisconsin, July 21, 2004
On July 21, 2004 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N45628, was substantially damaged in an accident near Merrill, Wisconsin (Merrill Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The dual student's failure to maintain directional control during the initial climb after takeoff and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. A contributing factor was that all available runway was not used for takeoff due to the touch-and-go operation. An additional factor was the swamp terrain encountered.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2004 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Merrill, Wisconsin · Merrill Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N45628 · registry record · serial 2155
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The single-engine tail-wheel equipped airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after takeoff. The flight instructor reported that he and a dual student were practicing takeoffs and landings with a left crosswind of approximately 8 miles per hour. During the fourth takeoff, the student lifted off with "near perfect" directional control, however, the aircraft subsequently yawed 30 to 40 degrees to the right at which time the student released the controls. The flight instructor stated that he immediately assumed the controls and applied full left rudder. He reported that the aircraft settled into ground effect. He held the plane in ground effect in an attempt to gain airspeed, however, the aircraft subsequently settled into a swamp area beyond the end of the runway. The flight instructor and dual student reported no known malfunction of the aircraft or engine prior to the accident. At 1835, the RRL automated weather observing system recorded winds from 250 degrees at 5 knots.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,947 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 6,947 as pilot in command; 3,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 4, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 9 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,209 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2004; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RRL Merrill WI at 11:00 pm
- Destination: RRL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,997 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 pm from RRL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.