CHI94LA285

NTSB accident investigation · Luscombe 8E · Hettinger, ND · August 14, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 14, 1994, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
Place
Hettinger, ND
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N2501KLuscombe 8E
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 12, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19940814021489A
Case key
9642

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's improper use of the wheel brakes.

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.

Nose overLanding - roll
Brakes(normal) - improper use ofPilot in commandCause

Analysis

The private pilot reported a normal touchdown and landing roll. He said he began using brakes about two thirds of the way down the runway and the airplane nosed over. During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot stated that he probably applied the brakes too hard, or they hung up. An operational check of the wheel braking system revealed no anomalies.

Factual narrative

On August 14, 1994, at 1000 central daylight time, a Luscombe 8E airplane, N2501K, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at the Fordahl Airport, near Hettinger, North Dakota. The private pilot reported no injuries. The personal flight originated about 0950 and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed for the local flight.

The private pilot reported that he conducted a normal touchdown and landing roll. He said he began using brakes about two thirds of the way down the runway and the airplane nosed over. During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot stated that he probably applied the brakes too hard, or they hung up.

The FAA Inspector examined the airplane and reported substantial damage to the vertical fin, aft fuselage, and right lift strut. No evidence of preexisting airframe or engine malfunction was noted. An operational check of the wheel braking system revealed no anomalies.

Aircraft

Registration
N2501K
Reported as
Luscombe 8E
Category
Airplane
Serial number
5228
Airframe hours
889
Engine
Continental C-85-12F, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Keith D. Fordahl
Registered owner
Fordahl, Albert H
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · August 8, 1994 · 1 hours before
Airport
INDI · Fordahl Airport, runway 31, 1,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf

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
40
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
209 total · 21 in this make and model · 209 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
110° at 5 knots
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
72 °F, dew point 36 °F
Observed at
DIK, 40 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.