# NTSB ERA25LA180: Luscombe 8F, N815B, Punta Gorda, FL, April 13, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 13, 2025, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Punta Gorda, FL - Coordinates: 26.917408000000002, -81.987636 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.9174&lon=-81.9876&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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): 200042 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200042/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200042 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA180 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain direction control of the airplane during the landing roll. ## 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 8F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8190114), [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 8F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8190114), [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while performing a full stall landing, the tailwheel-equipped airplane bounced and veered to the right. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder, but the airplane continued to the right. He then “tapped” the left brake to turn the airplane back toward the centerline. The brakes immediately responded and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N815B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N815B), registered now, S/N 6745, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8F - Registry model: [Luscombe 8F](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8f) (registry code 8190114) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6745 - Year built: 1950 - Airframe hours: 3496.1 - Engines: Continental C-90-12-F 90 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 13, 2025, 3,496.1 hours before - Departed: 8FL1, Arcadia, FL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PGD, Punta Gorda, runway 04, 7,193 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review September 10, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,173.4 total, 896 in this make and model, 1.4 in the last 90 days, 1.4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KPGD - METAR: KPGD 131753Z 02009KT 10SM CLR 27/08 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP201 T02670078 10267 20122 58008 ## 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 20250413006279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250413006279A), Apr 13, 2025: Luscombe 8F, Punta Gorda, FL, Substantial damage. During the touchdown to roll out phase. Did a slight bounce and veered to the right approximately 20 degrees. I made Appropriate left rudder input, with no… ## Other investigations on N815B (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 CHI65F0047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI65F0047), Feb 28, 1965: Luscombe 8F (N815B), Muskegon, MI, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200042. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 306 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18795777&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 759 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18796202&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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.