# NTSB CEN12CA117: Luscombe 8E, N71911, Atchison, KS, December 17, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 17, 2011, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Atchison, KS - Coordinates: 39.570556, -95.180274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5706&lon=-95.1803&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82558 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82558/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82558 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA117 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8E, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8190112), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8E, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8190112), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8E, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8190112), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Luscombe 8E, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=8190112), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Luscombe 8E, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=8190112), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the landing roll, the airplane swerved to the left side of the runway. The pilot attempted to regain directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane by applying left aileron, right rudder, and wheel brake to no avail. The airplane departed the edge of the runway into an area of soft ground and nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative During the landing roll, the airplane swerved to the left side of the runway. The pilot attempted to regain directional control of the tailwheel equipped airplane by applying left aileron, right rudder, and wheel brake to no avail. The airplane departed the edge of the runway into an area of soft ground and nosed over. During the accident the airplane’s fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71911](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71911-2017-07-14), registration cancelled 2017-07-14, S/N 3338, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8E - Registry model: [Luscombe 8E](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8e) (registry code 8190112) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3338 - Airframe hours: 1859 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2011 - Departed: K34, Garder, KS - Destination: K59, Atchison, KS - Airport: K59, Amelia Earhart Airport, runway 16, 3,000 × 48 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 28, 2011; flight hours: 2,375 total, 44 in this make and model, 2,355 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: STJ, 17 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 20111217029379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111217029379A), Dec 17, 2011: Luscombe 8E, Atchison, KS, Substantial damage. The private pilot was flying his personally owned Luscombe 8E on a part 91 pleasure flight. After completing his local area flight, the pilot was landing on… ## Other investigations on N71911 (1) 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 CHI66F0211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66F0211), Aug 15, 1965: Luscombe 8E (N71911), Plainfield, IL, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 2, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82558. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362188&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1, Fuselage Damage (item 2, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201,%20Fuselage%20Damage-Master.PDF 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.