Luscombe 8 accident near Springfield, Tennessee, January 18, 2010
On January 18, 2010 at about 9:25 pm local time, a Luscombe 8, registered N2111K, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Springfield, Tennessee (Springfield Robertson County). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a go-around after a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 2010 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Springfield, Tennessee · Springfield Robertson County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8 A · all 8s on the register
- Registration
- N2111K · no longer on the register · serial 4838
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the certificated flight instructor (CFI), he and the student pilot flew earlier in the day in preparation for the student pilot's first solo flight. The CFI reported that the student "was doing very well at landing the airplane" and was having no problems maintaining directional control. During the student pilot's first solo flight, he remained in the traffic pattern. On his first landing attempt, he flared late and bounced "high." The student pilot attempted a go-around, but lost control of the airplane and collided with several aircraft hangars approximately 15 feet above ground level. The CFI reported that the airplane had no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Airport structure › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 28 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M91 Springfield TN
- Destination: M91 Springfield TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,005 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from CKV, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.