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ERA12CA403

2012-06-09 · Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport SEG

Current FAA registration · N2052K

Make / Model
LUSCOMBE 8E
Year of manufacture
1947 · 65 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES (85 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19551026
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A1A73E

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the takeoff.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane suddenly veered to the left during the takeoff roll and he was unable to stop before it departed the left side of the runway. A witness at the airport observed the airplane airborne over the grass area between the runway and taxiway, when the right wing struck the ground. The airplane then bounced on the right and left main landing gears, before coming to rest on the grass. The airplane's right wing was substantially damaged. Post accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the airplane suddenly veered to the left during the takeoff roll and that he was unable to stop the airplane before it departed the left side of the runway. A witness at the airport observed the airplane airborne over the grass area between the runway and taxiway, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane then bounced on the right and left main landing gears before coming to rest on the grass. The airplane's right wing was substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_ERA12CA403.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.