# NTSB CHI02LA039: Luscombe 8A, N77869, Harrisonville, MO, November 25, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 25, 2001, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Harrisonville, MO
- Coordinates: 38.649517, -94.339569 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6495&lon=-94.3396&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 15, 2002
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 53836
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53836/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA039

## Probable cause

directional control not maintained be the pilot during landing rollout.  The ditch was a contributing factor.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The tailwheel equipped airplane veered off the right side of runway 17 during landing rollout.  The airplane then jumped a ditch along side of the runway.  The pilot reported that the wind conditions were from 250 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots.

## Factual narrative

On November 25, 2001, at 1500 central standard time, a Luscombe 8A, N77869, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during landing rollout on runway 17 (4,000 feet by 75 feet, dry asphalt) at the Lawrence Smith Memorial Airport (OA6), Harrisonville, Missouri.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan.  The pilot was uninjured.  The local flight originated from OA6 at 1445.

The pilot reported, "Took off 1445 CST [and] flew around local area (OA6) [and] returned to land at approximately 1500 CST.  Landed in 3 point position.  As I was rolling out a gust started to lift right wing.  I made corrections to gain control but to no avail.  Airplane left the runway heading toward a ditch on the right side of the runway.  Did not want to nose over in the ditch so applied power [and] pulled back on stick and got enough lift to clear ditch and came to rest on far side of ditch."

The pilot reported that the wind conditions were from 250 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots.

The pilot reported receiving a biennial flight review on July 14, 2001 in a Beech M35 airplane, which has a retractable tricycle landing gear system.  The accident airplane was equipped with a fixed tail wheel landing gear system.

The pilot reported a total flight time of 642 hours, of which 54 hours were in the make and model of the accident airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N77869](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N77869), registered now, S/N 3596, built 1946 (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: 3596
- Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tommy W Snoddy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 30, 2001, 2 hours before
- Departed: OA6, Harrisonville, MO
- Airport: OA6, Lawrence Smith Memorial, runway 17, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review July 14, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 642 total, 54 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: OJC, 23 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 20011125033539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011125033539A), Nov 25, 2001: Luscom 8A, Harrisonville, MO, No damage. (-23) Aircraft was landing runway 17 at Harrisonville, MO, (MO85). On roll-out, the pilot lost directional control and exited the runway to the right and into…

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.