# NTSB ANC84LA111: Luscombe 8E, N1795K, Seldovia, AK, July 4, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 4, 1984, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Seldovia, AK
- Coordinates: 59.389324, -151.66072 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.3893&lon=-151.6607&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4319
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC84LA111
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4319/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84LA111

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING LANDING ON A 2600 FT GRAVEL RWY NESTLED IN THE HILLS WITH VARIABLE WINDS. THE PLT HAD TEMPORARILY TRADED ACFT FOR THIS TRIP AND HAD NOT FLOWN THIS TYPE OF ACFT FOR THE PRECEDING 90 DAY PERIOD. HE NORMALLY FLEW HIS CESSNA 185. HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS ARPT AND HAD MADE ONE GO-AROUND BEFORE THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF BEING HIGHAND FAST. THE 2ND APPROACH WAS FLOWN, ACCORDING TO THE PLT, AT 60 MPH AND HE CROSSED THE THRESHOLD AT ABOUT 30 FT AGL. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS ABOUT MIDFIELD AND IN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE PLT SAID, THE TAIL KEPT COMING UP. HE THOUGHT A GUST OFTAILWIND HAD ACTED ON THE FLAPS AND UP ELEVATOR TO PUSH THE TAIL OF THE ACFT UP. HE SAID HE SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE CONCERN ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF VARYING WINDS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1795K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1795K), registered now, S/N 4522, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8E
- Registry model: [Luscombe 8E](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8e) (registry code 8190112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4522
- Airframe hours: 1375
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert E. Elliot
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 1983, 42 hours before
- Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Airport: SOV, Seldovia, runway 34, 2,600 × 150 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 575 total, 7 in this make and model, 468 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19840704029569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840704029569A), Jul 4, 1984: Luscom 8E, Seldovia, AK, Substantial damage. Nosed over from too much braking and a windshift to a quartering tail wind while landing on a short gravel strip.

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.