CEN20LA029

Factual narrative

On December 4, 2019, at 1657 central daylight time, a Luscombe 8A, N45606, was substantially damaged during takeoff at Vinland Valley Aerodrome (K64), Baldwin City, Kansas. The private pilot and flight instructor were uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Dusk visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight originated from K64 at 1605. The flight instructor was conducting a Part 61.56 flight review of the pilot at the time of the accident. The pilot just completed a "good" wheel landing and was going to attempt an additional takeoff so that he could perform a three-point landing. During the takeoff roll, when the airplane was about 600 ft down runway 16 (3,030 ft by 80 ft, dry turf), it crossed over the runway centerline towards the right. The pilot applied left rudder control input, but the airplane continued to the right. The airplane then went off the runway and into a soft and muddy farm field where it nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane. The flight instructor was conducting a flight review with the private pilot. During the takeoff roll, the tailwheel-equipped airplane crossed over the runway centerline toward the right. The pilot applied left rudder control input, but the airplane continued to the right. The airplane then continued off the runway into a soft, muddy farm field, where it nosed over, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot failed to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which the flight instructor did not correct in a timely manner. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
• — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot