# Accident 20230518008749A: Luscombe 8E, Cortez, CO, May 18, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 18, 2023, 12:00 local time
- Place: Cortez, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.3030° N, 108.6280° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3030&lon=-108.6280&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2515K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2515K) (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: LUSCOMBE 8E
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA208) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230518008749A

## Narrative

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

ON 5/18/2023 A LUSCOMBE AIRCRAFT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, HAD A RH GEAR FAILURE WHILE LANDING IN CORTEZ, COLO. TWO PILOTS WERE ON BOARD FOR A FAMILIARIZATION FLIGHT AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS SOLD TO THE PILOT ON THE LEFT HAND SEAT. AIRCRAFT WAS SEVERLY DAMAGED, INCLUDING RIGHT HAND MAIN GEAR, BOTH WING TIPS AND SPINNER ON AIRCRAFT PROP. ONE SLIGHT INJURY TO THE PIC, WHO SUSTAINED A CUT TO THE HEAD. NTSB HAS RULED THIS AN ACCIDENT.

## 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 CEN23LA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA208), May 19, 2023: Luscombe 8E (N2515K), Cortez, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the right main landing gear due to prolonged corrosion of the landing gear tube, which weakened the gear.

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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