Luscombe 8A accident near Orangeburg, South Carolina, June 13, 2013
On June 13, 2013 at about 4:10 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N71232, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Orangeburg, South Carolina (Dry Swamp 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 inadvertent slippage of the pilot's foot off the right rudder pedal, resulting in a loss of directional control on the ground, and the pilot's overly aggressive application of wheel brakes, resulting in a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2013 · about 4:10 pm local time
- Place
- Orangeburg, South Carolina · Dry Swamp Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N71232 · registry record · serial 2659
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he landed the airplane on the runway and his foot slipped off the right rudder pedal, resulting in a swerve to the left. He applied wheel brakes to slow the airplane, and thought that he might enter a pond at the end of the runway. He applied the brakes aggressively, and the airplane nosed over. A post accident examination revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wings, fuselage, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,350 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,350 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 22, 2010
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,701 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2012; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A&C65 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1DS Orangeburg SC
- Destination: 1DS Orangeburg SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,900 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from OGB, 1 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.