# NTSB CHI91LA118: Luscombe 8E, N1406K, Flushing, MI, March 14, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 14, 1991, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Flushing, MI
- Coordinates: 43.060272, -83.84085 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0603&lon=-83.8409&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15031
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91LA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15031/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA118

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT AND NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND LOOP.  FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED AT THE TIME.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear - collapsed
  - ground loop/swerve - performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - runway
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF A SINGLE ENGINED TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE DID NOT ATTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WHILE PERFORMING A CROSSWIND LANDING IN GUSTY CONDITIONS. AIRPLANE CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED AND THE AIRPLANE GROUNDLOOPED, COLLAPSING THE MAIN LANDING GEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1406K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1406K-2018-05-03), registration cancelled 2018-05-03, S/N 4133, 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: 4133
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Joseph J. Heystek
- Registered owner: Joseph J. Heystek
- Airport: 3DA, Dalton, runway 36, 1,740 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,922 total, 1,842 in this make and model, 1,890 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 35° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19910314009279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910314009279A), Mar 14, 1991: Luscom 8E, Flushing, MI, Substantial damage. Dragged a wing and ground looped landing in a gusty crosswind. Side loads collapsed landing gear.

## Other investigations on N1406K (1)

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.

- [NTSB CEN15LA381](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA381), Aug 23, 2015: Luscombe 8 (N1406K), Pontiac, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while landing with a left quartering tailwind. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to conduct a go-around because of a loss of…

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.