- Date
- June 20, 2007, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place
- London, OH
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N45468Luscombe 8A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20070620014999A
- Case key
- 66156
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane and the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind which resulted in a ground loop and subsequent collision with a taxiway sign. Factors contributing to the accident include the crosswind and the taxiway sign.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was landing the tailwheel aircraft on runway 27 (4,001 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) with a right-hand crosswind. The pilot stated that upon touchdown "contact came before alignment was complete" and the airplane turned to the right. The pilot reported that he "overcompensated and got into an oscillation" and the airplane ground looped. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and struck a taxiway sign. The pilot stated in his accident report that the accident could have been prevented by performing a go around. Wind conditions reported at an airport, located 15 nautical miles east of the accident site, were: 350 degrees at 8 knots.
Factual narrative
The airplane was substantially damaged when it ground looped and impacted a taxiway sign following a landing on runway 27 (4,001 feet by 75 feet, asphalt). The pilot reported that as he was on final he was crabbing into the wind to maintain the runway centerline. When he approached the runway, he applied aileron into the wind and left rudder "to align with the centerline and cancel drift." The pilot reported that he contacted the runway before the alignment was complete and the airplane turned to the right. The pilot reported that he "over-compensated and got into an oscillation" and the airplane ground looped. The airplane subsequently departed the right side of the runway and struck a taxiway sign. The pilot stated in his accident report that the accident could have been prevented by performing a go around.
Wind conditions reported at Bolton Field Airport, 15 nautical miles east of the accident site, near the time of the accident were: Wind 350 degrees at 8 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N45468
- Reported as
- Luscombe 8A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1995
- Airframe hours
- 2,578.1
- Engine
- Continental A75-8, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 2006
- Departed
- 04I · Columbus, OH
- Destination
- London, OH
- Airport
- UYF · Madison County, runway 27, 4,001 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 64
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 459 total · 294 in this make and model · 385 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
- Observed at
- KTZR, 15 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.