1940 Luscombe 8A

Flight Data

All four attempts to return to the 4004 ft runway made the runway (see above). See the reasons below.

Flight Analysis

Takeoff distance                                               Very Short. Immediate Climb

Difference between climb and glide angle   Zero

Altitude lost in turn                                          Very Small

The dashed grey line coming from the 4,000 ft. runway distance is set at the glide angle of the plane. Any time the plane falls below this line, without power, it is not possible to return to the runway (4,000 ft is used as our standard way to compare planes).

In this case, the climb and glide angles are the same.  However, since the takeoff distance was so short, and the altitude lost in the turn was very small, the plane was able to keep above the dashed grey line.  It should be noted however, that the pilot did not have much margin.  if the density altitude was higher and thus the climb angle lower, the plane might be in danger of not making it.