Luscombe 8E accident near Wautoma, Wisconsin, April 15, 1997
On April 15, 1997 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Luscombe 8E, registered N26SH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wautoma, Wisconsin (Wautoma 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 throttle. Factors were a crosswind and soft terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1997 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Wautoma, Wisconsin · Wautoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8E · all 8Es on the register
- Registration
- N26SH · registry record · serial 26SH
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
In his statement, the pilot indicated that the fourth touch & go landing 'Took awhile to get the plane on its mains because of the gusty conditions.' He said that when the power was advanced 'the engine sputtered. Pushed in carburetor heat. Still sputtered. Pumped throttle, still sputtered.' He next 'Put the tail down, and started breaking.' During the aborted takeoff roll the aircraft 'Ran off the end of 13 into a freshly plowed [soft] sandy field. The main wheels dug in and the plane went on to its back.' The airplane came to rest approximately 420 feet past the end of runway 13 inverted. Subsequently the pilot said, 'I believe I pushed power in to fast and flooded engine. Pumping throttle made it worse.'
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: 750 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1996; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WI67 Ripon WI at 10:30 pm
- Destination: Y50
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,600 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 15 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KOS, 20 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.
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.