# NTSB ERA12CA269: Luscombe 8A, N71479, Pittsburgh, PA, April 3, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 3, 2012, 19:37 local (23:37 UTC)
- Place: Pittsburgh, PA
- Coordinates: 40.601943, -79.822219 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6019&lon=-79.8222&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83296
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA269
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83296/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83296
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA269

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane at the conclusion of a cross-country flight. He reported that he applied the left brake during the landing roll, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and traveled down an embankment, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and right elevator. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane at the conclusion of a cross-country flight. He stated to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he applied left brake during the landing roll and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and traveled down an embankment, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and right elevator. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N71479](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71479), registered now, S/N 2906, 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 C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2906
- Airframe hours: 2021
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C90 SERIES 95 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Paul Taylor
- Registered owner: Paul Taylor
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 17, 2010
- Departed: HKY, Hickory, NC
- Destination: 9G1, Pittsburgh, PA
- Airport: 9G1, Rock Airport, runway 35, 3,550 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 90; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: left; flight hours: 29,500 total, 35 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observed at: BTP, 12 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 20120403011799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120403011799A), Apr 3, 2012: Luscombe 8A, Pittsburgh, PA, Substantial damage. Pilot was attempting to land at Rock Airport. Upon touchdown, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The pilot states he was at fault and there was no…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 12, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83296. 3.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367243&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367244&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367245&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF

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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