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GAA17CA403

2017-07-06 · Grand Island, Nebraska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport GRI

Current FAA registration · N45609

Make / Model
SILVAIRE LUSCOMBE 8A
Engine
CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES (65 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19560221
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A58AE0

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that during an instructional flight, when the tailwheel-equipped airplane was at rotation for takeoff, it sharply veered to the left. When safe flight was not assured, the flight instructor took over control from the student pilot, and subsequently landed the airplane in the grass area adjacent to the runway. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that, during an instructional flight, when the tailwheel-equipped airplane was at rotation for takeoff, it sharply veered to the left. When safe flight was not assured, the flight instructor took over control from the student pilot, and subsequently the airplane exited the runway into the adjacent grassy area. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 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
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA403.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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