# NTSB FTW96LA213: Luscombe 11A, N1690B, Calhan, CO, May 14, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 14, 1996, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Calhan, CO - Coordinates: 39.03086, -104.289604 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0309&lon=-104.2896&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19839 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19839/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA213 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A factor was a gusting cross-wind. ## 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 - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence post ## Analysis During landing roll, after completion of a positioning flight, the aircraft departed the side of the runway and struck a fence post. Winds at the time were a cross-wind of 15 knots with gusts to 25. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 1996, at 1530 mountain daylight time, a Luscombe 11A, N1690B, struck a fence post after departing the side of the runway at Calhan, Colorado, during landing roll. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 as a positioning flight and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado, at 1500. According to the pilot, he was landing on runway 35 with the wind from 270 degrees magnetic at 15 knots with gusts to 25 knots. He said that after touch down, the aircraft began to weather vane and departed the left side of the runway. He attempted to go around but the aircraft was in deep grass and would not accelerate. The aircraft struck a fence post causing damage to the left flap, left stabilizer, left elevator, left main trunion and empennage. After the encounter with the fence, the aircraft again entered the runway area and was taxied to a hangar by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1690B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1690B), registered now, S/N 11196, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 11A - Registry model: [Luscombe 11A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-11a) (registry code 8890402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11-196 - Airframe hours: 2107 - Engines: Continental E-185 2 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Eric R. Baldwin - Registered owner: Timothy Melcher - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 1996, 1 hours before - Departed: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO - Destination: 5V4 - Airport: 5V4, Calhan, runway 35, 4,565 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,839 total, 25 in this make and model, 2,375 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F ## 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 19960514046659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960514046659A), May 14, 1996: Temco 11A, CO, Substantial damage. On landing, aricraft bounced and came down on left side of runway. Aircraft started to go to the left into the grass. Full rudder would not bring aircraft back… 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.