Luscombe 8F accident near Kapolei, Hawaii, February 21, 2005
On February 21, 2005 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Luscombe 8F, registered N2248B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kapolei, Hawaii (Kalaeloa 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 inadequate compensation for the quartering tailwind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. Related factors were the tailwind and crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 2005 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Kapolei, Hawaii · Kalaeloa Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8F · all 8Fs on the register
- Registration
- N2248B · no longer on the register · serial 6675
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot lost control of the tail wheel equipped airplane while landing with a right quartering tailwind. The pilot landed on runway 4R with the wind between 140 and 220 degrees from 7 to 14 knots. Upon landing the airplane veered to the right. The pilot attempted to realign the airplane with rudder, aileron, and brakes, to no avail. He applied full power to abort the landing, but the engine hesitated and the left main landing gear collapsed. The engine's carburetor was not equipped with an accelerating pump. Without one an engine can experience a hesitation during rapid throttle application. No anomalies were noted with the engine or the airframe that would have prevented their normal operation. The pilot had a tail wheel endorsement and 69 hours in the accident airplane make and model.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 85 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2004; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HNL Honolulu HI at 7:35 pm
- Destination: JRF Kapolei HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4R, 8,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from HNL, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.