Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8F accident near Frenchville, Maine, May 9, 2023
On May 9, 2023 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1948 Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8F, registered N1885B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Frenchville, Maine (Northern Aroostook Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 2023 · about 3:00 pm local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- Frenchville, Maine · Northern Aroostook Rgnl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8F, built 1948 · all LUSCOMBE 8Fs on the register
- Registration
- N1885B · registry record · serial 6312
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that after making a 3-point landing on the airport’s paved runway a gust of wind, “turned [the airplane] towards a ditch.” The pilot pressed on the brakes “hard” to prevent going into the ditch and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no 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
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 302 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: December 11, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,784.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 1,203 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ME19 Clayton Lake ME at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 14 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft; a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from FVE
Weather report (METAR): KFVE 091453Z AUTO 32014G22KT 10SM FEW050 OVC065 07/M07 A2993 RMK AO2 PK WND 33028/1402 SLP140 T00721067 53009
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of Airplane from Left – Note “Oil Can” Wrinkling of Wing
Photo 2 – Closeup View of Lower Left Wing Wrinkling
Photo 3 – Closeup View of Vertical Stabilizer Damage
Photo 4 – Closeup of Firewall Flange – Note Skin DistortionThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 7, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1885B on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8 184 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Silvaire 200 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F 54 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Northern Aroostook Regional · nearest airport
- Clayton Lake Strip · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Maine 532 since 1982 · 70 in the last ten years
- Maine 1,425 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA23LA226.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.