Luscombe 8E accident near Carthage, New York, August 13, 1985
On August 13, 1985 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Luscombe 8E, registered N2661K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carthage, New York (Carthage airport). It was a personal flight 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 1985 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Carthage, New York · Carthage · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8E · all 8Es on the register
- Registration
- N2661K · registry record · serial 5388
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT,WHILE CLIMBING TO CRUISE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH; HOWEVER IT DID NOT QUIT. THE PILOT DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE FIELD FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. WHILE TURNING ONTO FINAL APPROACH, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO THE RUNWAY. THE ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO CLEAR THE HIGH VEGETATION ON THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH IT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN CONTACTED THE RUNWAY IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND NOSED OVER.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,453 hours in all; 278 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 1,326 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,773 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ART Watertown NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from ART, 25 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.