# NTSB ERA23LA226: Silvaire Luscombe 8F, N1885B, Frenchville, ME, May 9, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 9, 2023, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Frenchville, ME - Coordinates: 47.283125, -68.30538 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2831&lon=-68.3054&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 139288 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA226 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/139288/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=139288 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA226 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusting wind conditions. ## 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: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8190130), [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: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8190130), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=8190130), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=8190130), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/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: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8190130), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=8190130), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that after making a 3-point landing on the airport’s paved runway a gust of wind, “turned [the airplane] towards a ditch.” The pilot pressed on the brakes “hard” to prevent going into the ditch and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1885B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1885B), registered now, S/N 6312, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SILVAIRE LUSCOMBE 8F - Registry model: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8F](https://openairdocs.org/model/silvaire-luscombe-8f) (registry code 8190130) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6312 - Year built: 1948 - Airframe hours: 4784.4 - Engines: Continental C-90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 17, 2023 - Departed: ME19, Clayton Lake, ME - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FVE, Northern Aroostook Rgnl, runway 32, 4,600 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 11, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 302 total, 48 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 14 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: FVE - METAR: KFVE 091453Z AUTO 32014G22KT 10SM FEW050 OVC065 07/M07 A2993 RMK AO2 PK WND 33028/1402 SLP140 T00721067 53009 ## 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 20230509008459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230509008459A), May 9, 2023: Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8F, Frenchville, ME, Substantial damage. On may 9, 2023 [privacy data omitted]rolled out after three point touchdown on kfve runway 32. A crosswind gust weather-vaned the aircraft hard right. Pilot… ## Other investigations on N1885B (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 NYC69D0112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC69D0112), Jul 20, 1968: Luscombe 8F (N1885B), Westerly, RI, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=139288. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 764 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15584871&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15584828&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-6120-completion_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 763 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15584509&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DRAFT%20-%20LA226%20Photo%20Array-Rel.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. --- 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.