Luscombe 8E accident near New Iberia, Louisiana, June 4, 1999
On June 4, 1999 at about 1:34 pm local time, a Luscombe 8E, registered N2680K, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Iberia, Louisiana (Acadiana Regional 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 inadvertent ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 1999 · about 1:34 pm local time
- Place
- New Iberia, Louisiana · Acadiana Regional Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8E · all 8Es on the register
- Registration
- N2680K · registry record · serial 5407
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport rated pilot lost control of the tailwheel equipped airplane during takeoff. The pilot was occupying the left seat, and the owner was occupying the right seat of the dual control airplane. The airplane broke ground in a 3-point attitude. The wheels touched the runway after the nose was lowered to gain airspeed and the airplane veered abruptly to the left resulting in a ground loop. The owner reported that prior to the accident, 4 touch and go landings were executed on runway 34. Additionally, 2 stop-and-go landings were performed on runway 34, with the takeoffs being initiated from abeam the 3,500 foot marker. An eyewitness at the airport reported that the airplane appeared to have gotten airborne prematurely. At the time of the accident, the sky conditions were clear and the wind at the airport was reported from 200 degrees at 3 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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,820 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 20,120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,231 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 17, 1998; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LFT Lafayette LA at 1:15 pm
- Destination: ARA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 8,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from ARA
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.