# NTSB CEN22LA079: Luscombe 8A, N1616K, Ellinwood, KS, December 13, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 13, 2021, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Ellinwood, KS · Grass next to the runway.
- Coordinates: 38.373266, -98.598874 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3733&lon=-98.5989&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Wichita FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104418
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104418/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104418
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA079

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper brake application during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over.

## 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 8A, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing roll on dry grass, the brakes “locked up” and “over we went.” The airplane came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing lift strut. The pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration after the accident that the brakes worked better than he expected, and there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the brakes and that both wheels spun freely. A postaccident examination of the accident site showed no signs of disturbed terrain prior to the location of where the airplane came to rest inverted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1616K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1616K), registered now, S/N 4343, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8A (NO SERIES)
- 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: 4343
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 2525.89
- Engines: Continental Motors A-80 Series 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 14, 2021
- Departed: OK15, Oolagah, OK
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 1K6, Ellinwood Muni, runway 17/35, 2,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 86; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review March 14, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 22,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: KGBD, 13 nm away
- METAR: KGBD 131956Z AUTO 15009KT 10SM CLR 13/M03 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP163 T01331033

## 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 20211213021069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211213021069A), Dec 13, 2021: Luscombe 8A, Ellinwood, KS, Substantial damage. At 2:45 pm local time 12/13/2021 N1616K Luscombe model 8A s/n 4343 flipped over the nose on rollout when brakes were applied after landing at 1K6 in Ellinwood,…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104418. 6.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13112258&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13111972&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Federal aviation administration - aviation safety inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 265 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13112360&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20ASI%20Statement%20Redacted-Rel.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.

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