Luscombe 8 accident near Grass Valley, California, December 2, 1997
On December 2, 1997 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Luscombe 8, registered N2591K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grass Valley, California (Auburn 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 inadvertent activation of the aircraft brakes during the landing rollout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 1997 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Grass Valley, California · Auburn · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8 A · all 8s on the register
- Registration
- N2591K · registry record · serial 5318
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On landing rollout the pilot inadvertently activated the aircraft brakes and the aircraft nosed over. The pilot stated that weather was not a factor, and that there were no mechanical difficulties with the aircraft.
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: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 2,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,680 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUN at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from BAB, 20 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.