# NTSB FTW97LA052: Luscombe 8F, N1907K, Floydada, TX, November 29, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 29, 1996, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Floydada, TX - Coordinates: 33.979564, -101.330101 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9796&lon=-101.3301&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20118 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20118/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA052 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind during landing. Factors were the crosswind and the locked left main wheel brake. ## 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 - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Nose over, landing - roll - landing gear,normal brake system - locked (contributing factor) ## Analysis During the landing roll on runway 17, with the wind 'out of the west at 20 to 30 knots and gusty,' the pilot was unable to prevent the airplane from beginning 'a steep turn towards the west.' The pilot applied left brake, but this did not slow the turn to the right. As the pilot increased pressure on the left brake, the brake 'locked,' the tail came up, and the airplane nosed over. The winds recorded at a location 32 nautical miles from the accident site, 4 minutes prior to the accident, were from 220 degrees at 19 knots. ## Factual narrative On November 29, 1996, at 1200 central standard time, a Luscombe 8F, N1907K, registered to and operated by a private owner, sustained substantial damage during landing near Floydada, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 ferry flight. A flight plan was not filed for the cross country flight that originated from Bovina, Texas, at 1100. According to the pilot, "the winds were out of the west at 20 to 30 knots and gusty." He was "unable to maintain a straight ground track on the runway" during his first attempted landing on runway 17 at the Floydada Municipal Airport and executed a go-around. On his second landing, the pilot was able to maintain a straight track until he "couldn't hold the tail up anymore." When the tail "dropped," he lost rudder authority and "could not keep the airplane moving straight." The airplane "began a steep turn towards the west," and the pilot applied left brake, but this did not slow the turn to the right. As the pilot increased pressure on the left brake, "the brake locked," the "tail came up," and the airplane nosed over coming to rest in the inverted position. Damage to the airplane included a crushed vertical stabilizer and bending of the fuselage. At 1156, 4 minutes prior to the accident, the winds at the Lubbock International Airport in Lubbock, Texas, were from 220 degrees at 19 knots. Lubbock International Airport is 32 nautical miles from the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1907K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1907K-2013-04-18), registration cancelled 2013-04-18, S/N 4634, built 1947 (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: 4634 - Airframe hours: 2210 - Engines: Continental C-90 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: Timothy J Hauder - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 1996, 50 hours before - Departed: NONE, BOVINA, TX - Destination: Q41 - Airport: Q41, Floydada Municipal, runway 17, 3,700 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 381 total, 46 in this make and model, 362 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 19 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LBB, 32 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 19961129036889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961129036889A), Nov 29, 1996: Luscom 8F, Floydada, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft ground looped on landing and came to rest inverted. (-23) aircraft ground looped on landing. 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.