Luscombe 8A accident near Elyria, Ohio, September 21, 2024
On September 21, 2024 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1947 Luscombe 8A, registered N2952K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Elyria, Ohio (Lorain County Rgnl 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 failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a direct crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 2024 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elyria, Ohio · Lorain County Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A, built 1947 · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N2952K · registry record · serial 5679
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while landing, he encountered a direct crosswind from the left. The pilot attempted to correct the landing, however, when the right wheel touched down, the airplane entered a ground loop. The airplane began to skid down the runway sideways towards a taxiway. Subsequently, the right wing lifted, the left main gear collapsed, and the left wing contacted the pavement which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 07 and he reported winds from 320 at 11 knots “with direct crosswind up to 14” knots.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Decision related to condition
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,991.2 hours in all; 682.9 in this make and model; 13.7 in the last 90 days; 7.6 in the last 30 days; 1,956.7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 21, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Aerospace Technolo A65-8 (piston); 1,085 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I64 Wakeman OH at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 5,002 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from LPR
Weather report (METAR): KLPR 211753Z AUTO 34008KT 10SM CLR 27/15 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP129 T02720150 10278 20183 56002
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Airplane at the Scene
Photograph 2 – Damage to the Left Wing
Photograph 3 – Damage to the Left WingThe 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 January 21, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 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.
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.