Luscombe 8F accident near Wickenburg, Arizona, January 13, 1995
On January 13, 1995 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Luscombe 8F, registered N2183B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wickenburg, Arizona (Wickenburg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL, AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER, WHO HAD SOLE ACCESS TO THE AIRPLANE'S BRAKES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 13, 1995 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wickenburg, Arizona · Wickenburg
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8F · all 8Fs on the register
- Registration
- N2183B · registry record · serial 6610
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (CFI) IN THE RIGHT SEAT PERMITTED THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER TO TAKE OFF IN THE CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRPLANE. THE INITIAL GROUND ROLL WAS UNREMARKABLE. HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER ACCELERATING TO BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE CFI ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AS IT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY, BUT HE WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. WHEEL BRAKES WERE INSTALLED ONLY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE.
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, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,500 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 6,590 as pilot in command; 1,452 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E25 at 10:30 pm
- Destination: E25 AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,050 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.