Luscombe 8A accident near Elwood, Indiana, May 25, 2007
On May 25, 2007 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N2897K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elwood, Indiana. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The commercial pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude and airspeed which resulted in the airplane mushing into the terrain during the simulated forced landing along with the CFI's failure to adequately supervise the commercial pilot's actions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2007 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elwood, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N2897K · no longer on the register · serial 5624
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane contacted the ground following a loss of control during a simulated forced landing. Both pilots stated they had performed two simulated emergency landing approaches and the accident occurred on the third simulated emergency landing. Both pilots reported that during the third simulated emergency, the commercial pilot made a 180 degree turn to return to the landing strip. The commercial pilot reported they were "to low and to slow" when they reached the landing strip. The CFI reported he added full power, but it was too late and the airplane contacted the ground at a slow speed.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,952 hours in all; 1,118 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,934 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,447 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 5,317 as pilot in command; 1,276 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3I1 Elwood IN
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.