# NTSB ANC14CA017: Silvaire Luscombe 8E, N2542K, Alegnagik, AK, March 2, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 2, 2014, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Alegnagik, AK - Coordinates: 59.435554, -158.943893 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.4356&lon=-158.9439&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 5, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88872 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC14CA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88872/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88872 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA017 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to determine that the ice that he was taxiing on was safe for operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=8190128), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of available resources](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063035/cases.md?model=8190128), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=8190128), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had just landed his tail wheel-equipped airplane on a frozen lake. During the taxi to his cabin, both of the airplane's main landing gear wheels broke through overflow ice, and the airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident could have been prevented had he called a local lodge owner to check the conditions of the ice before landing. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he had just landed his tail wheel-equipped airplane on a frozen lake. During the taxi to his cabin, both of the airplane's main landing gear wheels broke through overflow ice, and the airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident could have been prevented had he called a local lodge owner to check the conditions of the ice before landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2542K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2542K), registered now, S/N 5269, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SILVAIRE LUSCOMBE 8E - Registry model: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8E](https://openairdocs.org/model/silvaire-luscombe-8e) (registry code 8190128) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5269 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 4236 - Engines: Continental C85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2013, 10 hours before - Departed: PADL, Dillingham, AK - Destination: Alegnagik, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 20, 2012; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,950 total, 1,583 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 10 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: PADL, 27 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20140302003949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140302003949A), Mar 2, 2014: Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8E, Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage. Based on available information (airman has not provided any information pertaining to accident) Pilot operated a Luscombe L8, N2542K, on March 2, 2014 from… ## Other investigations on N2542K (2) 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 ANC93LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA135), Aug 6, 1993: Luscombe SL8 (N2542K), Dillingham, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN. - [NTSB ANC88LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88LA113), Aug 20, 1988: Luscombe 8E (N2542K), Dillingham, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88872. 416 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 416 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412481&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.