- Date
- June 16, 2005, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Orangeburg, SC
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N37GHLuscombe 8E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FSDO 13 Columbia
- FAA report
- 20050616011349A
- Case key
- 61768
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll.
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.
Analysis
The pilot was attempting a crosswind landing on runway 23 After making a three point landing, the pilot stated that he "lost directional control, and the airplane looped 180 degrees and skidded to the right across the runway". The left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest on the grass to the right of runway 23. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during this attempted landing. The post-accident examination of the airplane also did not disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure.
Factual narrative
On June 16, 2005 at 1230 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8E, N37GH, registered to and operated by FDK Luscombe LLC, ground looped and collided with the ground during a crosswind landing at Orangeburg Municipal Airport, Orangeburg, South Carolina. The flight was operated under provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a visual flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage and the private pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Pearson County Airport in Roxboro, North Carolina on June 16, 2005 at 1000.
According to the pilot, he was attempting a crosswind landing on runway 23 at Orangeburg Municipal Airport. After making a three point landing, the pilot stated that he "lost directional control, the airplane looped 180 degrees and skidded to the right across the runway". The left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest on the grass to the right of runway 23.
The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that all flight control surfaces were attached, the left landing gear collapsed and the left wing was damaged four feet inboard of wing tip. The pilot did not report any mechanical problem with the airplane during this attempted landing. The post-accident examination of the airplane also did not disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N37GH
- Reported as
- Luscombe 8E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4683
- Airframe hours
- 3,180
- Engine
- Continental 90, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- FDK Luscombe LLC
- Registered owner
- FDK Luscombe LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 1, 2005 · 22 hours before
- Departed
- TDF · Roxboro, NC
- Destination
- OGB · Orangeburg, SC
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- OGB · Orangeburg Muni, runway 23, 4,500 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2005
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 137 total · 108 in this make and model · 59 as pilot in command · 32 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.78 inHg
- Observed at
- KOGB
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.