# NTSB CEN13LA127: Luscombe 8, N707HL, Elkhart, IN, January 2, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 2, 2013, 11:25 local (16:25 UTC) - Place: Elkhart, IN - Coordinates: 41.656944, -86.034721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6569&lon=-86.0347&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86001 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86001/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86001 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA127 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a bounced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the airplane when it touched down on the left main landing gear and bounced. The pilot attempted to recover from the bounce by reducing pitch so that the main landing gear wheels would touch down onto the runway surface, but he inadvertently applied too much pitch control input and also applied left rudder control input. The airplane then veered left off the runway and nosed-over when it impacted an area of plowed snow. The pilot reported no malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On January 2, 2013, about 1125 eastern standard time, a Luscombe 8F, N707HL, departed off the left side of the runway during landing at Mishawaka Pilots Club Airport (3C1), Elkhart, Indiana. The airplane received substantial damage. The commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight that originated from 3C1 at 1050. The pilot stated that on his third landing on runway 21 (2,243 feet by 40 feet, asphalt), the airplane landed with the left wing low and touched down onto the runway surface with only the left main landing gear. The airplane bounced "awkwardly" to the right because the pilot did not have the control stick forward enough to keep the main landing gear on the runway. The pilot over-corrected in lowering the airplane nose and attempting to get touch down on both main landing gear wheels. In this attempt, the pilot inputted too much forward right control stick and then left rudder. The airplane departed toward the left and off the runway surface. The pilot stated that the runway had been plowed to about 10 feet beyond the edge of the runway. The airplane impacted the snow and nosed-over. The pilot reported that there was no mechanic malfunction/failure of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N707HL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N707HL-2013-07-03), registration cancelled 2013-07-03, S/N 6110, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8 (F) - Registry model: [Luscombe 8F](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8f) (registry code 8190114) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6110 - Year built: 1948 - Airframe hours: 5938 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 16, 2012 - Departed: 3C1, Elkhart, IN - Destination: 3C1, Elkhart, IN - Airport: 3C1, Mishawaka Pilots Club Airport, runway 21, 2,243 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 14, 2012; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 925 total, 465 in this make and model, 925 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: EKM, 4 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 20130102001349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130102001349A), Jan 2, 2013: Luscombe 8F, Elkhart, IN, Substantial damage. The owner/pilot of aircraft N707HL along with an accompanying passenger was doing routine takeoffs and landings at the Mishawaka pilot?s Club using the hard… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86001. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402871&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.