# NTSB DEN01LA115: Luscombe 8E, N1614K, Longmont, CO, June 9, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 2001, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Longmont, CO - Coordinates: 40.169757, -105.21009 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1698&lon=-105.2101&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52484 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52484/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA115 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A contributing factor was the tailwind. ## 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 - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The pilot was returning from a student solo cross-country flight. The airplane landed and as soon as the wheels touched down, it veered off the left side of the runway and crossed the median, which was covered with prairie dog holes. The right main landing gear was torn off, and there were wrinkles in the skin and gear box. Recorded wind at a nearby airport was from 110 degrees at 12 knots. For the landing on runway 29, this resulted in a direct 12 knot tailwind. ## Factual narrative On June 9, 2001, approximately 1430 mountain daylight time, a Luscombe 8E, N1614K, was substantially damaged following loss of control during landing at Longmont, Colorado. The student pilot, the only occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed for the student solo cross-country flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at St. Francis, Kansas, approximately 1230. The following is based on a telephone conversation with the pilot shortly after the accident. The pilot had flown from Longmont to Akron, Colorado, then to St. Francis, Kansas, and was en route back to Longmont as part of a student solo cross-country flight. The airplane landed at Longmont and as soon as the wheels touched down, it veered off the left side of runway 29, crossed the median, which was covered with prairie dog holes. The right main landing gear was torn off, and there were wrinkles in the skin and gear box. Recorded winds at the Broomfield-Jefferson County (Jeffco) Airport, located 20 miles south of Longmont, were from 110 degrees at 12 knots. For a landing on runway 29, this would present a direct 12 knot tailwind. The pilot was asked to submit an accident report on June 15. When none was received, the instructor was contacted on his cellular telephone. Both he and the pilot were in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, attending the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual convention. The pilot said she had mailed the report. Additional reports and various correspondence were sent to the pilot on July 12, August 24, and October 12, but a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) was not received. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1614K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1614K-2007-02-01), registration cancelled 2007-02-01, S/N 4341, 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: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4341 - Airframe hours: 3003 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert M. Michael - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 27, 2001, 17 hours before - Departed: SYF, St. Francis, KS - Destination: 2V2, Longmont, CO - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 2V2, Vance Brand, runway 29, 4,800 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 90 total, 74 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 12 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: BJC, 20 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 20010609015879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010609015879A), Jun 9, 2001: Luscom 8E, Longmont, CO, No damage. (-23) The student pilot swerved off the runway during a landing and ran into a taxiway that was under construction. The aircraft's right main landing gear,… ## Other investigations on N1614K (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 DEN03LA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA144), Aug 16, 2003: Luscombe 8E (N1614K), Longmont, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: Separation of the landing gear tire valve stem resulting in the left main tire deflating, and the pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control. 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.