# NTSB CHI84LA202: Luscombe 8E, N455C, Ortonville, MI, May 19, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 19, 1984, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Ortonville, MI
- Coordinates: 42.849727, -83.43943 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8497&lon=-83.4394&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12619
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84LA202
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12619/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LA202

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

THE ACFT LANDED HARD SHORT OF THE RWY, BOUNCED, & BOTH LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N455C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N455C), registered now, S/N 4254, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8E
- Registry model: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8E](https://openairdocs.org/model/silvaire-luscombe-8e) (registry code 8190128) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4254
- Airframe hours: 2127
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-90-12 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Judith P. Gray
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 3BB, TROY, MI
- Airport: 3M17, Willie Run, runway 27, 1,900 ×  ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 129 total, 33 in this make and model, 68 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PTK, 10 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 19840519017989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840519017989A), May 19, 1984: Luscom 8E, Ortonville, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot made hard landing which collapsed left main gear causing crash.

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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