# NTSB CEN12CA391: Luscombe 8A, N1380K, Mexico, MO, June 23, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 23, 2012, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Mexico, MO - Coordinates: 39.207778, -91.935279 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2078&lon=-91.9353&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84073 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA391 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84073/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84073 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA391 ## Probable cause The airplane's encounter with a downdraft during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger had just completed a local flight from a private airfield. The pilot reported that he flared for the landing with the airplane’s airspeed between 60 and 65 mph at 3 to 4 feet above the ground, and the left wing dropped abruptly. The airplane’s left landing gear hit the ground hard and the airplane bounced; the pilot was then able to recover for a normal 3-point landing. An examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated that it felt as though the airplane was pushed to the ground, which he believed was due to a strong downdraft or gust of wind. Wind in the area about 40 minutes before the accident was reported to be from 170 degrees at 7 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot and passenger had just completed a local flight from a private airfield. The pilot reported he flared for the landing, with the airplane’s airspeed between 60-65 mph and 3-4 feet above the ground, when the left wing dropped abruptly. The airplane’s left landing gear hit the ground hard and the airplane bounced; the pilot was then able to recover for a normal 3-point landing. The pilot added that it felt as though the airplane was pushed the ground, which he believed was due to a strong downdraft or gust of wind. An examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. Wind conditions in the area about 40 minutes before the accident were 170 degrees at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1380K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1380K), registered now, S/N 4107, 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: 4107 - Airframe hours: 1344 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Koebel Allan Trustee - Registered owner: Koebel Allan Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2011 - Departed: Pvt, Mexico, MO - Destination: Pvt, Mexico, MO - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: Pvt, Rileys Roost ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review March 26, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 2,251 total, 992 in this make and model, 2,251 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KCOU, 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 20120623013219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120623013219A), Jun 23, 2012: Luscombe 8A, Mexico, MO, Substantial damage. On 06/23/2012, [privacy data omitted] and a passenger, [privacy data omitted], were flying in a 1946 Luscombe 8A. They were in the flare to land at Riley'S… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84073. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 928 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372882&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372883&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Airplane damage (FAA provided photo) (item 3, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372884&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20damage%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20(FAA%20provided%20photo)-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.