# NTSB CHI94LA194: Luscombe 8A, N72009, Peoria, IL, June 9, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 9, 1994, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Peoria, IL
- Location: 40.7958° N, 89.6135° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MOUNT HAWLEY AUXILIARY (3MY), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7958&lon=-89.6135&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 19, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9563
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA194
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9563/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA194

## Probable cause

the pilot's misjudged landing flare. A factor associated with the accident is the pilot allowing the airplane to descend at an excessive rate.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED A NORMAL APPROACH TO LANDING UNTIL HE BEGAN TO FLARE THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. HE SAID THAT THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DESCEND TOO RAPIDLY AND LANDED HARD. THE PILOT AND AN FAA INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT DISCOVERED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALY OR FLIGHT CONTROL MALFUNCTION.

## Factual narrative

On June 9, 1994, at 1830 central daylight time, a Luscombe 8A airplane, N72009, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at the Mt. Hawley Airport, Peoria, Illinois. The solo private pilot reported no injury. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without flight plan.

The pilot reported he was on final approach to landing on runway 35.  He said the approach was normal until he began to flare the airplane for landing. He said the airplane began to sink, and although he applied full back (up) elevator control, he was unable to raise the airplane's nose. He said he looked at the airplane shortly after the accident and the elevator controls appeared to work correctly.

An FAA Inspector examined the airplane at the accident site and discovered no mechanical problems with the flight control systems.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N72009](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N72009), registered now, S/N 3436, 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: 3436
- Airframe hours: 1198
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A65 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bernard P. Andrews
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1993, 56 hours before
- Departed: GBG, GALESBURG, IL
- Airport: 3MY, Mt. Hawley, runway 35, 3,600 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 313 total, 178 in this make and model, 313 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °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 19940609015109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940609015109A), Jun 9, 1994: Luscom 8A, Peoria, IL, Substantial damage. Made hard landing from uncorrected high sink rate on final.

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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