Luscombe 8A accident near Gran Marais, Minnesota, September 26, 1999
On September 26, 1999 at about 8:35 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N65353, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gran Marais, Minnesota (Cook County Sea Plane airport). It was a personal 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 downwind turn, stall, mush, due to the pilot's decision to turn and failure to maintain flying speed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1999 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Gran Marais, Minnesota · Cook County Sea Plane · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N65353 · no longer on the register · serial 2723
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff from a lake into the wind, the aircraft began a left turn over the lake shore and then descended during the turn until collision with the lake's surface. The pilot said: "The downward wind coming over hill and trees caused my loss of lift, then after turning left and stalling the left wing caused the crash."
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 270 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 186 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 14, 1998
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 28, 1999; 107 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,375 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0G5
- Destination: 0G5
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.59 inHg
- Observation at 8:37 pm from CKC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.