Luscombe 8 accident near Wilmington, Ohio, October 15, 2016
On October 15, 2016 at about 1:15 pm local time, a 1946 Luscombe 8, registered N1750K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Wilmington, Ohio (Clinton Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 2016 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wilmington, Ohio · Clinton Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8 E, built 1946 · all 8s on the register
- Registration
- N1750K · no longer on the register · serial 4477
- 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 after the initial touchdown, the tailwheel equipped airplane bounced and "floated" as "he held the stick back". The airplane touched down again and began to porpoise, while "he continued to hold the stick back". He further reported that the airplane veered to the left and he attempted to correct with rudder inputs. Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway, encountered a grassy incline, and became airborne. He reported that he applied full throttle but the airplane did not gain altitude, he then saw trees ahead and elected to land the airplane. As the airplane contacted the ground it rolled forward, coming to rest in a nose down attitude. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine 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
- Hard landing during landing defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Runway excursion during landing
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Loss of control in flight during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 87 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 87 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 16, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,168.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 26, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 3,184 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 40I Waynesville OH at 12:55 pm
- Destination: I66 Wilmington OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,579 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from KILN, 5 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.
Other NTSB records under N1750K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.