# NTSB CEN25LA089: Luscombe 8E, N1739K, Brush, CO, January 27, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 27, 2025, 15:43 local (22:43 UTC) - Place: Brush, CO - Coordinates: 40.264361, -103.57563 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2644&lon=-103.5756&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - 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: Federal Aviation Administration - Denver FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199624 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199624/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199624 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA089 ## Probable cause The failure of the left main landing gear forward strut. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=8190112), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/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 8E, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8190112), [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-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8E, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=8190112), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane touched down on all 3 landing gear wheels. During the landing roll at about 30 to 35 miles per hour, the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest upright on its nose and left wing and the fuselage and left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported the winds were calm during the landing. Postaccident examination by the airplane owner revealed the left main landing gear strut was fractured, and the rear strut was bent aft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1739K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1739K), registered now, S/N 4466, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8E - Registry model: [Luscombe 8E](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8e) (registry code 8190112) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4466 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 2329.1 - Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 2024 - Departed: LAR, Laramie, WY - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 7V5, Brush Municipal Airport, runway 25, 4,300 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review June 1, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 506.8 total, 400 in this make and model, 506.8 as pilot in command, 16.8 in the last 90 days, 10.8 in the last 30 days, 5.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KFMM, 11 nm away - METAR: KFMM 272255Z AUTO 25007KT 10SM CLR 07/M04 A3004 RMK AO2 ## 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 20250127000519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250127000519A), Jan 27, 2025: Luscombe 8E, Brush, CO, Substantial damage. On January 27, 2025, a Luscombe LL-8-E, incurred substantial damage during the landing rollout at the Brush Municipal Airport (7V5). After touchdown and at… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 27, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199624. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18276617&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 930 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18274560&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. --- 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.