# NTSB ATL05CA057: Luscombe 8A, N45524, Lexington, NC, March 6, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 6, 2005, 16:14 local (21:14 UTC) - Place: Lexington, NC - Coordinates: 35.781665, -80.416946 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7817&lon=-80.4169&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Greensboro FSDO - 05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61090 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05CA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61090/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA057 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive braking during landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over. A factor was the tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated he made an approach to runway 5, but the airplane was high on the final approach, and the windsock showed a tailwind, so he initiated a go-around. The pilot stated that when he returned for a second approach to runway 5, the windsock was limp. He stated the approach was uneventful, and the airplane touched down approximately 200 feet down the runway. During landing roll, the airplane neared the end of the runway, the pilot applied the brakes, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. A review of recorded surface weather observations from Davidson County Airport, Lexington, North Carolina, located 5.7 nautical miles east of the accident site, revealed at 1559 winds were 250 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 14 knots, and at 1659 winds were 230 degrees at 8 knots. Morrison Field is a grass strip approximately 1,200 feet long and 200 feet wide; runway 5 has an upslope and is utilized for landings. ## Factual narrative On March 6, 2005, at 1614 eastern standard time, a Luscombe 8A, N45524, registered to and operated by the airline transport pilot, nosed over during landing roll at Morrison Field, a private airstrip in Lexington, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airline transport pilot reported no injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Elbert County - Patz Field, Elberton, Georgia, at 1415. The pilot stated he made an approach to runway 5. He stated the airplane was high on final approach, and the windsock showed a tailwind, so he initiated a go-around. The pilot stated that when he returned for a second approach to runway 5, the windsock was limp. He stated the approach was uneventful, and the airplane touched down approximately 200 feet down the runway. During landing roll, the airplane neared the end of the runway. The pilot stated, "I felt I need brakes to stop the ... [airplane]. I apparently applied too much." The pilot stated the tail of the airplane came up, the propeller hit the sod, and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the accident site revealed the airplane came to rest inverted near the end of the runway, which was bordered by a residential yard and a house. The airplane sustained damage to the rudder, vertical stabilizer, and propeller. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. A review of recorded surface weather observations from Davidson County Airport, Lexington, North Carolina, located 5.7 nautical miles east of the accident site, revealed at 1559 winds were 250 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 14 knots, and at 1659 winds were 230 degrees at 8 knots. Morrison Field is a grass strip approximately 1,200 feet long and 200 feet wide; runway 5 has an upslope and is utilized for landings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45524](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45524-2005-05-04), registration cancelled 2005-05-04, S/N 2051, built 1946 (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: 2051 - Airframe hours: 2785 - Engines: Continental A&C 65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas L Garrett - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 26, 2004, 41 hours before - Departed: K27A, Elberton, GA - Destination: 48NC, Lexington, NC - Airport: 48NC, Morrison Field (private), runway 05, 1,200 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 18, 2004; flight hours: 25,000 total, 31 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KEXX, 6 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 20050306003689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050306003689A), Mar 6, 2005: Luscom 8A, Lexington, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) 48NC is a 1200 ft sod runway facing 5/23. Landings must be in the direction of 5 due to slope of runway. Windsock is shielded by trees. Multiple houses… 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.