# NTSB CEN23LA117: Luscombe 8A, N25342, Guthrie, OK, February 20, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 20, 2023, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Guthrie, OK
- Coordinates: 35.850679, -97.415998 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8507&lon=-97.4160&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106765
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106765/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106765
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA117

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain 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 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)
- [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 8A, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8190104), [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=8190104), [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 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 student pilot reported that, while rolling out on landing, the airplane suddenly veered to the right causing the nose to turn to the left. The student pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder; however, the airplane exited the left side of the runway, proceeded down a terrace, and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the student pilot was landing the airplane on runway 34 with wind from 300° at 6 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N25342](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25342-2024-09-21), registration cancelled 2024-09-21, S/N 1218 (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: 1218
- Year built: 1940
- Airframe hours: 854.3
- Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Happy Hour Luscombe LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 2022
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: GOK, Guthrie-Edmond Rgnl, runway 34, 5,001 × 75 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 112 total, 98 in this make and model, 53 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observed at: KGOK
- METAR: METAR KGOK 201653Z AUTO 30006KT 10SM CLR 12/03 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP096 T01220028=


## 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 20230220001209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230220001209A), Feb 20, 2023: Luscombe 8A, Guthrie, OK, Substantial damage. On February 20, 2023 at approximately 1100 hours CST, a 1940 Luscombe 8A tail dragger [privacy data omitted] was on a student pilot solo flight and landed on…

## Other investigations on N25342 (2)

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 CEN09CA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA001), Oct 3, 2008: Luscombe 8A (N25342), Greeley, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll resulting in a ground loop. Contributing to the accident was the lack of remedial action from the flight instructor.
- [NTSB CHI03LA292](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA292), Aug 21, 2003: Luscombe 8A (N25342), Macon, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper use of the rudder, which resulted in directional control not being maintained during the landing. A factor to the accident was the crosswind gust.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 30, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106765. 5.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15216283&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1(1)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15216164&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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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