Luscombe 8 accident near Bremen, Alabama, April 20, 2019
On April 20, 2019 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1948 Luscombe 8, registered N1866B, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Bremen, Alabama (Private 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 delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun, impact with a fence, and a nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 2019 · about 9:30 pm local time · cases in 2019
- Place
- Bremen, Alabama · Private Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8 F, built 1948 · all 8s on the register
- Registration
- N1866B · registry record · serial 6293
- 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, during takeoff from a 2,400-ft-long private, grass airstrip, he was concerned the airplane would not clear the wires at the end of the runway, so he aborted the takeoff. The airplane overran the departure end of the runway, crossed a road, and went through a barbed wire fence. Subsequently, the airplane come to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident, the pilot estimated that the wind was from 290° at 8 knots. The pilot was departing from runway 18.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 3,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 29, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,568.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12K (piston); 188 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Bremen AL at 7:15 pm
- Destination: PVT Bremen AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from KJFX, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The 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 May 13, 2019. 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 | Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page · 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
- N1866B on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Luscombe 8 Silvaire 1,420 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Luscombe 1,472 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental C-90-12K 2,149 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Alabama 1,211 since 1982 · 173 in the last ten years
- Alabama 4,355 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/GAA19CA224.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.