N37GH

On June 16, 2005 at 1230 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8E, N37GH, registered to and operated by FDK Luscombe LLC, ground looped and collided with the ground during a crosswind landing at Orangeburg Municipal Airport, Orangeburg, South Carolina. The flight was operated under provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a visual flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage and the private pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Pearson County Airport in Roxboro, North Carolina on June 16, 2005 at 1000.

According to the pilot, he was attempting a crosswind landing on runway 23 at Orangeburg Municipal Airport. After making a three point landing, the pilot stated that he "lost directional control, the airplane looped 180 degrees and skidded to the right across the runway". The left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest on the grass to the right of runway 23.

The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that all flight control surfaces were attached, the left landing gear collapsed and the left wing was damaged four feet inboard of wing tip. The pilot did not report any mechanical problem with the airplane during this attempted landing. The post-accident examination of the airplane also did not disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure.