# Accident 19971025040419A: Luscom 8B, Bluefield, WV, October 25, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 25, 1997, 11:44 local time
- Place: Bluefield, WV
- Airport: Mercer County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.2609° N, 81.2105° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2609&lon=-81.2105&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5PL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5PL-2012-09-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Luscombe 8E (registry code 8190112, https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOM 8B
- Reported engine: LYC O320A1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 913 total, 68 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD98LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA011) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971025040419A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) THE PILOT ENTERED A RIGHT BASE LEG FOR RUNWAY 23 WITH THE WINDS FROM THE SOUTH/SOUTHEAST. HE RECALLED THAT THE APPROACH WAS NORMAL, BUT 'ADDED POWER TO RECOVER FROM A DOWN DRAFT ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE THRESHOLD.'  DURING THE 3 POINT TOUCH DOWN AT NORMAL SPEED, THE AIRPLANE IMMEDIATELY VEERED TO THE RIGHT, WITH THE LEFT WING AND LANDING GEAR LIFTING UP.  THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT AILERON AND RUDDER, BUT THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND CONTINUED ONTO THE GRASS.  THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR DROPPED INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH, COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR .  THE AIRPLANE ROTATED OVER ITS NOSE, COMING TO REST INVERTED.  FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS VERIFIED, AND THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB IAD98LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA011), Oct 25, 1997: Silvaire Luscombe 8B (N5PL), Bluefield, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane.

## Other reports on N5PL (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19820716030679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820716030679A), Jul 16, 1982: Luscom 8F (N5PL), Belleville, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot flared aircraft to high during landing causing stall and airplane dropping from 20 feet above ground.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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