# NTSB BFO95LA037: Luscombe 8A, N45631, Zanesville, OH, March 25, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 25, 1995, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Zanesville, OH - Coordinates: 39.950538, -82.009407 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9505&lon=-82.0094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9033 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO95LA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9033/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO95LA037 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while taxiing after landing. Related factors were the unfavorable (gusty) wind condition, and the pilot's improper compensation for wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - from landing - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, taxi - from landing ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE TAXIING TO PARKING WITH VARIABLE, GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, AN UNEXPECTED WIND GUST FROM BEHIND THE AIRPLANE CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO NOSE OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD THE FLIGHT CONTROL STICK '...ALL THE WAY BACK IN MY LAP...' WHEN THE TAIL SUDDENLY LIFTED, AND THE AIRPLANE '...FELL OVER ON ITS BACK.' ## Factual narrative On Saturday March 25, 1995, at 1200 eastern standard time, a Luscombe 8A, N45631, nosed over while taxing at Parr airport near Zanesville, Ohio. The pilot and the one passenger were uninjured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated in Urbana, Ohio, at 1050, and was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that after a normal landing on runway 28, he slowed the airplane to a fast walk pace, and prepared to exit the active runway. He stated that as he began the right turn off the runway, a gust of wind lifted the tail, and the airplane nosed over. In the Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation section of the written accident report, the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had received "...additional instruction on taxi procedures with gusting crosswinds [with the possibility] of quartering tailwinds." The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the wind was out of 350 to 010 degrees, at 5 knots gusting to 15 knots. He reported that he had applied right rudder, was about to apply right brake for the turn, and had the flight control "...stick all the way back in my lap..." when the accident occurred. According to an article published in Aviation Safety, a basic rule for downwind taxiing is: "Keep that control wheel/stick full forward and the elevators full down. If very high tailwinds ever get under "up" elevators, you may get flipped..." (Aviation Safety, Vol. XV, "The Meaning of 'Command'" Kelly, B., p.13). An excerpt of this article is appended to this report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45631](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N45631), registered now, S/N 2158 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8A - Registry model: [Luscombe 8](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8) (registry code 8190102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2158 - Airframe hours: 1068 - Engines: CONTINENTAL A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael K. Agin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 26, 1994, 71 hours before - Departed: I74, URBANA, OH - Destination: 42I - Airport: 42I, Parr, runway 28, 2,800 × 26 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 628 total, 40 in this make and model, 571 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 8 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ZZV, 7 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 19950325005759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950325005759A), Mar 25, 1995: Luscom 8A, Zanesville, OH, Substantial damage. Wind got under up elevators during turn off runway. 8A nosed over. Proper windy taxi procedures not used. (-23) aircraft landed on rnwy 28 at 42I, pilot stated… 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.