Luscombe 8E accident near Deland, Florida, May 14, 1994
On May 14, 1994 at about 6:25 pm local time, a Luscombe 8E, registered N71128, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deland, Florida (Bob Lee Flight Strip airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
CORROSION AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1994 · about 6:25 pm local time
- Place
- Deland, Florida · Bob Lee Flight Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8E · all 8Es on the register
- Registration
- N71128 · registry record · serial 2555
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LUSCOMBE 8E WAS EQUIPPED WITH A LYCOMING O-320 ENGINE (150 HP) AND WAS BEING USED TO TOW GLIDERS. WHILE LANDING AFTER A GLIDER RELEASE, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUT FAILED AND THE WHEEL SEPARATED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED LANDING GEAR STRUT INDICATED IT WAS RUSTED ON THE INSIDE AND A PREEXISTING CRACK WAS PRESENT AT THE POINT OF FAILURE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,406 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,405 as pilot in command; 10 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,257 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1993; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1J6 at 6:15 pm
- Destination: 1J6
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,300 ft by 72 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 30,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from DAB, 14 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.