ATL05CA004

NTSB accident investigation · Luscombe LL-8 · Jasper, GA · October 17, 2004

Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
October 17, 2004, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC)
Place
Jasper, GA
Injuries
1 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N1491KLuscombe LL-8
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 28, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Atlanta FSDO
Case key
60532

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's excessive braking during landing roll resulted in a nose over.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Nose overLanding - roll
Brakes(normal) - excessivePilot in commandCause

Analysis

According to the pilot, after touchdown on runway 34, during the roll out he was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane. The pilot applied the brakes and the airplane nosed down and flipped over inverted. The pilot did not report any flight control or mechanical anomalies prior to the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed the vertical stabilizer was buckled. Examination of airplane did not reveal any flight control or mechanical anomalies. The weather at Pickens County Airport reported: Winds 310 degrees at 12 knots, gusting 16 knots.

Factual narrative

On October 17, 2004, at 1415 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe LL-8, N1491K, registered to and operated by a private pilot flipped inverted during a landing roll on runway 34 at Pickens County Airport, Jasper, Georgia. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private pilot received serious injuries. The flight departed Pickens County Airport, Jasper, Georgia, on October 17, 2004 at 1300.

According to the pilot, after touchdown on runway 34, the airplane "darted to the left" but despite his efforts to arrest the left turn, the airplane continued to the left. When the pilot applied the wheel brakes, the airplane nosed down and flipped inverted on the runway. The pilot did not report any flight control or mechanical anomalies prior to the accident.

Examination of the airplane revealed the vertical stabilizer was buckled. Examination of airplane did not reveal any flight control or mechanical anomalies. The weather at Pickens County Airport reported: Winds 310 degrees at 12 knots, gusting 16 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N1491K
Reported as
Luscombe LL-8
Category
Airplane
Serial number
4218
Airframe hours
2,048
Engine
Continental C65, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Ronald J Williams
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · August 30, 2004 · 2,048 hours before
Departed
RMG · Rome, GA
Destination
JZP · Jasper, GA
Airport
JZP · Pickens County, runway 34, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
66
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
500 total · 60 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
310° at 12 knots, gusting 16
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
12,000 ft broken
Temperature
66 °F, dew point 43 °F
Altimeter
29.90 inHg
Observed at
RYY, 271 nm away