Luscombe 8 accident near East Windsor, CT
On April 18, 2017, a Luscombe 8 (airplane) was involved in an accident near East Windsor, CT. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 18, 2017
- Place
- East Windsor, CT
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 41.933°N, 72.566°W
- NTSB ID
- 20170418X01152
Official records · ERA17FA156
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 18, 2017, about 1840 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8A, N8554Y, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and terrain during the initial climb after takeoff from Skylark Airport (7B6), East Windsor, Connecticut. The two private pilots were fatally injured. The airplane was owned and operated by one of the pilots under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. A witness reported that the pilot and passenger pulled the airplane out of its hangar and added fuel. The airplane then took off, and the engine sounded "strong and smooth." The airplane departed the airport traffic pattern for about 30 minutes and returned for landing. After landing, the engine was not shut down, and the occupants did not exit the airplane. About 5 minutes later, the airplane taxied for takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the engine again sounded "strong and smooth." The witness observed the airplane until it was about 50 to 75 ft in the air. He did not notice anything unusual about the airplane or the takeoff. A second witness, who was adjacent to the mid-point of the runway, observed the takeoff and reported that the engine sounded like it was at full power and "normal." The airplane appeared to be at the correct altitude for the takeoff. He called it a "nice and steady takeoff." A third witness, who was standing at the departure end of runway 10, observed the takeoff and reported that, as the airplane passed overh
Probable cause
The flying pilot's excessive maneuvering of the airplane at a slow airspeed, which resulted in exceedance of the critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilots' operation of the airplane over its maximum allowable gross weight.
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Browse: Connecticut · Luscombe aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
