# NTSB ATL95LA125: Luscombe 8A/E, N2853K, Williamson, GA, July 2, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 1995, 13:55 local (17:55 UTC) - Place: Williamson, GA - Coordinates: 33.180751, -84.360763 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1808&lon=-84.3608&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3586 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3586/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA125 ## Probable cause THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHEN A WINDSHEAR WAS ENCOUNTERED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Hard landing, landing - aborted - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear - overload (cause) ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A NORMAL FINAL APPROACH PATH UNTIL IT CLEARED THE TREES THAT PRECEDED THE 3100 FOOT GRASS STRIP. THE AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN TO SINK RAPIDLY AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CALLED FOR A GO-AROUND. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT DESPITE FULL POWER, THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT CLIMB OR MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY IN THE AREA, AND THAT THEY HAD ENCOUNTERED A WIND SHEAR. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A HARD LANDING, AND THE MAIN LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY COLLAPSED UPON IMPACT. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 1995, about 1355 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8A/E, N2853K, gear assembly collapsed during an attempted landing on runway 34 at Peach State Airport, in Williamson, Georgia. The instructional flight was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual Meteorological Conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the certified flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. According to the certified flight instructor's first report, the student pilot was flying the airplane, and the aircraft was in normal position while on the base leg. As they turned onto final, the aircraft was slightly below the ideal glide slope, with a nose high pitch attitude. When the aircraft reached short final, the instructor called for a go-around. The student pilot applied full power, but pitch control was not maintained. The instructor stated that the aircraft stalled suddenly and collided with the runway. Upon impact, the landing gear collapsed. In a second report,"amended report", the certified flight instructor stated that the aircraft was on a normal approach path until crossing the trees that preceded the 3100 foot grass strip. As the aircraft cleared the trees, it sank rapidly. The instructor called for a go-around. The student pilot then added full power to initiate a go-around approximately 50 feet above the runway. Despite full power, the aircraft was unable to climb or maintain level flight. The aircraft landed hard on the runway, and the gear assembly collapsed. The aircraft skidded approximately 30-40 yards before it came to a stop on the runway. The instructor further stated that the aircraft encountered a wind shear after passing the tree line. He concluded that this could have been caused by convective activity in the area at the time of the accident. According to the weather observation facility on Atlanta International Airport, 30 miles north of Peach State Airport, at 1350 eastern daylight time, the winds were observed as being from 310 degrees at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2853K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2853K-1998-04-29), registration cancelled 1998-04-29, S/N 5580 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8A/E - Registry model: [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190104) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5580 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael Gill - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: MCN, MACON, GA - Airport: 3GA7, Peach State Airport, runway 31, 3,100 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 4,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ATL, 30 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 19950702019849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950702019849A), Jul 2, 1995: Luscom 8A, Williamson, GA, Substantial damage. Slow and low on final. CFI called for go around. Aircraft pitched up stalled. Impact on runway collapsed gear. ## Other investigations on N2853K (2) 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 IAD75A1031|IAD75AI031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD75A1031%7CIAD75AI031), Nov 23, 1974: Luscombe 8A (N2853K), Polkton, NC, minor damage, 1 fatal - [NTSB FTW71DRG75](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW71DRG75), Feb 1, 1971: Luscombe 8A (N2853K), Bandera, TX, 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.