Luscombe 8F accident near Ramsey, Minnesota, May 21, 1989
On May 21, 1989 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Luscombe 8F, registered N2746K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ramsey, Minnesota (Gateway North 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 PASSENGERS INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DITCH LOCATED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY WHICH THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1989 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ramsey, Minnesota · Gateway North · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8F · all 8Fs on the register
- Registration
- N2746K · registry record · serial 5473
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT AFTER GIVING HIS PASSENGER HER FIRST AIRPLANE RIDE, THE PASSENGER BECAME ILL. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE PAX BENT FORWARD CAUSING CONTROL INTERFERENCE IN THE SIDE BY SIDE STICK CONFIGURED ACFT. THE PLT SAID HE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND LANDED ABOUT 100 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY COLLIDING WITH A SEVEN FOOT DEEP DITCH. THE ACFT THEN NOSED OVER INTO AN INVERTED POSITION.
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: 315 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,014 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1989; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y25 at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from MIC, 15 miles away
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.