Penn Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania 17870
Saturday, June 9, 2012 11:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/9/2012
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Selinsgrove
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17870
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 404910N
Event Location Longitude 0765131W
Event Location Airport Penn Valley
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SEG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 463
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SEG
Elevation of weather observation facility 463
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 120000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.96
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30470
NTSB Notification Source Harrisburg FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 30 2012 3:52PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2052K
NTSB Number ERA12CA403
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LUSCOMBE
Aircraft Model 8E
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 4779
Certified Max Gross Weight 1400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 14 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2823
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Mark C Cromley
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City LEWISBURG
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17837
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Mark C Cromley
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City LEWISBURG
Operator State PA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 17837
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SEG
Departure City Selinsgrove
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SEG
Destination City Selinsgrove
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 30 2012 3:52PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 4760
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --