# NTSB FTW00LA174: Luscombe 8A, N45880, Greenville, TX, June 6, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 6, 2000, 13:42 local (18:42 UTC) - Place: Greenville, TX - Coordinates: 33.19017, -96.110374 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1902&lon=-96.1104&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51138 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51138/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA174 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot reported that the touchdown on runway 35 was 'smooth and uneventful;' although, when he 'applied forward pressure to 'stick' the wheel landing,' the airplane turned 'hard right,' to an easterly heading. He applied power in an attempt to regain control of the airplane; however, the airplane continued turning to the right to a westerly heading, exited the runway surface, and nosed over. The pilot added that the winds were from 060 degrees at 8 knots. The right main landing gear was fractured in two locations. Examination of the fractures revealed signatures indicative of overstress separation. ## Factual narrative On June 6, 2000, at 1342 central daylight time, a Luscombe 8A airplane, N45880, was substantially damaged while landing at the Majors Airport, Greenville, Texas. The private pilot, who was the registered owner and operator, and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, for which no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from the Majors Airport at 1215. According to the pilot, he flew the airplane in the practice area approximately 1 hour 15 minutes and then returned to Majors Airport to terminate the flight. The pilot reported that the touchdown on runway 35 was "smooth and uneventful;" although, when he "applied forward pressure to 'stick' the wheel landing," the airplane "turned hard right," to an easterly heading. The pilot applied power in an attempt to regain control of the airplane; however, the airplane continued turning to the right to a westerly heading, and exited the runway surface. The airplane then contacted soft terrain and nosed over coming to rest inverted. The pilot added that the winds were from 060 degrees at 8 knots. According to the FAA inspector and the pilot, the right wing sustained structural damage, including the wing spar and wing strut. The engine mounts were damaged. They added that the right main landing gear fractured in two locations. The first point of separation occurred approximately 1/2 inch above the step, and the second point of separation occurred at the base of the landing gear assembly, at the wheel axle attaching point. The fracture surfaces were examined, by the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge, with a low power binocular microscope. The fracture surfaces located above the step exhibited bending deformation and 45 degree shear planes, consistent with an overstress separation. The fracture surface at the base of the landing gear, near the collar, also exhibited 45 degree shear planes, consistent with an overstress separation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45880](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45880-2003-05-20), registration cancelled 2003-05-20, S/N 2407, 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 A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2407 - Airframe hours: 1832 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larson Allen Stacey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 1999, 21 hours before - Departed: GVT - Airport: GVT, Majors, runway 35, 8,030 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 150 total, 16 in this make and model, 88 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 20000606010049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000606010049A), Jun 6, 2000: Luscom 8A, Greenville, TX, No damage. (-23) On June 6, 2000, N45880 was attempting a landing at Greenville Majors Airport, when the pilot suddenly lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft came to… 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.