Luscombe 8A accident near Tacoma, Washington, September 15, 2000
On September 15, 2000, a Luscombe 8A, registered N77948, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tacoma, Washington (Tacoma Narrows 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 inadequate compensation for winds and his failure to maintain directional control. Factors include a gusting crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 2000
- Place
- Tacoma, Washington · Tacoma Narrows · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N77948 · registry record · serial 3675
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to land the tailwheel aircraft on runway 17 with winds blowing from 250 degrees at 12 knots gusting 17. Although he was able to successfully touch down on the main gear, as he lowered the tailwheel to the runway, the aircraft was hit by a gust from the right, which caused it to weathervane into the wind. As the pilot was attempting to realign the aircraft with the runway, the left main gear collapsed and the left wing impacted the runway surface.
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: 364 hours in all; 137 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 292 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 27, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,553 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 2000; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWT Bremerton WA
- Destination: TIW Tacoma WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.20 inHg
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.