# NTSB CEN23LA426: Luscombe 8A, N71804, Boerne, TX, September 28, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 28, 2023, 06:31 local (11:31 UTC)
- Place: Boerne, TX
- Coordinates: 29.725149, -98.694158
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7251&lon=-98.6942&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: 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): 193178
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA426
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193178/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193178
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA426

## Probable cause

The 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-landing roll: 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-aborted after touchdown: 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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing roll his feet become entangled in the rudder pedals and he inadvertently applied brake pressure. The airplane veered left and the pilot unsuccessfully attempted to regain directional control with opposite rudder and increased engine power. Airport surveillance cameras recorded the airplane depart the runway surface, bounce, and impact a hangar, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot did not return the National Transportation Safety Board 6120.1/2 form.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N71804](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71804), registered now, S/N 3231 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8A
- Registry model: [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3231
- Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 5C1, Boerne Stage Airfield, runway 17, 5,006 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 84; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: KSAT, 15 nm away
- METAR: KSAT 281126Z 00000KT 10SM SCT022 24/22 A2997 RMK AO2 T02440217

## 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 20230928019659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230928019659A), Sep 28, 2023: Luscombe 8A, Boerne, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed left of center on runway. Upon landing, aircraft veered left off the runway, crossed the parrallel taxiway and struck a hangar with the right…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 1, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193178. 217 MB in all.

- Memorandum for record a�� 6120 not received (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 355 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16545960&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16554117&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 470 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16545826&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Video file - airport surveillance camera - approach & initial landing roll (item 4, MP4, 114 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16546581&FileExtension=MP4&FileName=N71804%2009-28-2023%202nd-Rel.MP4
- Video file - airport surveillance camera - landing roll & hangar impact (item 5, MP4, 102 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16546338&FileExtension=MP4&FileName=NC71804%2009-28-2023-091051-Rel.MP4

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.