# NTSB ANC99LA044: Luscombe 8A, N39091, Fairbanks, AK, April 6, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 6, 1999, 14:09 local (22:09 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.899291, -148.160293 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8993&lon=-148.1603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 46048 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46048/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA044 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point on the runway. Factors in the accident were snow showers and snow-covered terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The certificated private pilot was planning to practice touch and go landings. After takeoff, he began his first landing approach to the runway. The terrain around the airport was snow-covered. The pilot said that light snow showers had begun in the area, and during his approach, the light conditions were flat. He touched down in an area that he thought was the approach end of the runway. Instead, the pilot landed about 300 feet short of the runway in an area of snow-covered terrain. The airplane rapidly decelerated and nosed over. A METAR from the airport was reporting the visibility as eight miles in light snow. Snow began two minutes before the accident. ## Factual narrative On April 6, 1999, about 1409 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Luscombe 8A airplane, N39091, sustained substantial damage during a landing at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to, and operated by the pilot. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Fairbanks airport about 1403. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 7, 1999, at 1200, the pilot reported he intended to practice touch and go landings. After takeoff, he began his first landing approach to runway 19L. The pilot said that light snow showers had begun in the area, and during his approach, the light conditions were flat. He touched down in an area that he thought was the approach end of the runway. Instead, he landed about 300 feet short of the runway in an area of snow-covered terrain. The airplane rapidly decelerated and nosed over. The airplane received damage to the upper end of the vertical stabilizer, the rudder, and the propeller. At 1414, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) from the Fairbanks Airport was reporting, in part: Wind, 250 degrees (true) at 5 knots; visibility, 8 statute miles in light snow; clouds and sky condition, 2,800 feet broken, 4,200 feet broken, 8,000 feet broken, 20,000 feet overcast; temperature, 32 degrees F; dew point, 26 degrees F; altimeter, 29.57 inHg; remarks, snow began at 1407. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N39091](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39091-2018-04-18), registration cancelled 2018-04-18, S/N 1852, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8A - Registry model: [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1852 - Airframe hours: 2792 - Engines: Continental A65-8-F 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arnold A. Griese - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 23, 1998, 11 hours before - Departed: FAI - Airport: PAFA, Fairbanks International, runway 19L, 3,190 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,368 total, 318 in this make and model, 1,368 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 222° at 5 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FAI, 1 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 19990406017429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990406017429A), Apr 6, 1999: Luscom 8A, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. (.4) On April 6, 1999, about 1409 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Luscombe 8A airplane, N39091, sustained substantial damage during a landing at the… ## Other investigations on N39091 (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 LAX66F0337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX66F0337), May 1, 1966: Luscombe 8B (N39091), Wellington, NV, substantial damage 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.