Casualties unknown

2000-07-08: Luscombe 8A (N1155B) — Westminster, MD

Westminster, MD, US

On July 8, 2000, a Luscombe 8A (registration N1155B) was involved in an aviation accident near Westminster, MD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the delayed corrective action by the flight instructor. Factors were the failure of the private pilot to maintain directional control, his failure to use the brakes, and the lack of brakes on the right side for the flight instructor. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A tailwheel airplane drifted off the runway during takeoff, crossed back, and struck a hangar. The throttle was not closed when the airplane departed the runway, but was closed after it crossed back. The pilot did not use brakes.

Accident Overview

A private pilot, who had recently purchased a tailwheel airplane, hired a flight instructor for a checkout. During the initial takeoff with the pilot at the flight controls, the airplane drifted to the right and departed the side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane crossed back over the runway to the left and continued until it struck a hangar.

Pilot Actions

According to interviews, neither the pilot nor the flight instructor closed the throttle when the airplane first departed the runway to the right. The pilot did close the throttle after the airplane had crossed back over the runway to the left. The pilot reported that he did not believe he had used the brakes, and the flight instructor did have brakes installed on his side of the cockpit.

Aircraft and Conditions

The accident involved a tailwheel airplane. No further details about the aircraft type, registration, engine count, operator, location, date, time of day, weather, or ATC involvement were provided in the source. There is no mention of injuries, fatalities, or the extent of aircraft damage beyond the hangar strike.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X21578. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.