Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8F accident near Georgetown, California, October 7, 2015
On October 7, 2015 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1958 Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8F, registered N9918C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Georgetown, California (Georgetown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and subsequent runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 2015 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, California · Georgetown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8F, built 1958 · all LUSCOMBE 8Fs on the register
- Registration
- N9918C · no longer on the register · serial S-22
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and the private pilot were conducting a biennial flight review in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that he conducted a normal three-point landing but that, a few seconds later, the airplane bounced and, shortly thereafter, it veered about 30 degrees right. The pilot applied full power as the airplane exited the right side of the runway. The airplane then impacted sloping terrain adjacent to the runway, slid down it, and came to rest. The pilot reported no abnormalities with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,105 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 32.5 in the last 90 days; 4.2 in the last 30 days; 2,006 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,980 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 3,086 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-12F (piston); 2,980 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E36 Georgetown CA at 6:15 pm
- Destination: E36 Georgetown CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,980 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from KAUN, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR16LA004.