Globe GC-1B accident near Columbus, Ohio, May 13, 1984
On May 13, 1984 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Globe GC-1B, registered N78204, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Ohio (Rickenbacker Afb 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1984 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, Ohio · Rickenbacker Afb
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Globe GC-1B · all GC-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N78204 · registry record · serial 2204
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT RIGHT MAIN GEAR FAILED DURING TAKEOFF ROLL WHEN IT PASSED OVER AN ARRESTING CABLE. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE TAILWHEEL WAS DAMAGED ON A PREVIOUS LANDING AT RICKENBACKER AFB WHEN IT PASSED OVER AN ARRESTING CABLE AND HAD SINCE BEEN REPLACED. EXAMINATION OF THE BROKEN LANDING GEAR SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE FAILURE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,001 hours in all; 203 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,413 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 21, 1983; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,710 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 12,100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:30 pm from LCK
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.
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.