LAX97LA025

Factual narrative

On October 26, 1996, at 1655 hours Pacific daylight time, a Luscombe 8A, N71643, was substantially damaged during a collision with the ground following takeoff on runway 27L at Gillespie Field, El Cajon, California. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area personal flight. The pilot reported that he had completed four touch-and-go landings on runway 27L. Winds were aligned with the runway at about 12 knots and there was no turbulence present while he flew in the airport traffic pattern. The aircraft was climbing out after the fourth touch-and-go, and had reached about 250 feet agl at midfield, when the pilot observed a dust devil and debris blowing across the departure end of the runway. As the aircraft approached the departure end of the runway, he felt the aircraft's wings rock like a wake turbulence encounter. In the next few seconds the aircraft started descending at about 500 feet per minute, although he had full throttle applied and was in climb attitude at 70 miles per hour. He tried to turn back to the parallel runway 9L, but collided with terrain in an open dirt area about 500 feet west of the runway threshold. He estimated that from the time he felt the wings rock until he was on the ground was no more than 10 seconds. He added that there were no mechanical problems with the aircraft. Gillespie tower personnel reported to a San Diego Flight Standards District Office inspector that after the accident there had been freak wind gusts up to 50 knots that lasted 2 to 3 minutes, followed by calm wind conditions. During climb out after a touch-and-go landing on runway 27L, the pilot observed a dust devil and debris blowing across the departure end of the runway. As the aircraft approached the end of the runway, the aircraft's wings rocked similar to a wake turbulence encounter. The aircraft started descending at about 500 feet per minute although full throttle was applied and the aircraft was reportedly at best climb speed. The pilot tried to maneuver for a landing on the parallel runway (9L), but collided with terrain in an open dirt area about 500 feet short of the runway threshold. He estimated no more than 10 seconds elapsed from the time he felt the wings rock until he was on the ground. He added that there was no mechanical problem with the aircraft. Tower personnel reported that there had been freak wind gusts up to 50 knots that lasted 2 to 3 minutes, followed by calm wind conditions. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12