# NTSB FTW99LA102: Luscombe 8A, N1212B, Ada, OK, March 29, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 29, 1999, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Ada, OK - Coordinates: 34.769927, -96.659446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7699&lon=-96.6594&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45992 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45992/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA102 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive application of the wheel brakes. ## 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 - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The 2,750 hour commercial pilot stated that he made a 'normal wheel landing' on runway 35. The pilot added that after the airspeed decayed and he lost rudder effectiveness, he 'got on the brakes prior to letting the tail wheel down.' The ensuing deceleration resulted in the airplane nosing over and coming to rest in the inverted position. The airport manager stated that the pilot called the airport's Unicom station as he approached the airport. The airport manager reported that the winds had been variable from the northeast and southeast most of the afternoon, and at the time of his radio call the pilot was told that the winds were from 070 at 10 knots. The pilot elected to land straight in to runway 35. Runway 12 was available. ## Factual narrative On March 29, 1999, at 1730 central standard time, a Luscombe 8A tailwheel equipped airplane, N1212B, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during the landing roll at the Ada Municipal Airport near Ada, Oklahoma. The airplane was registered to and operated by the owner. The instrument rated commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight. A flight plan was not filed for the 65 nautical mile cross country flight that originated from the Margaritaville Airport, near Whitesboro, Texas, at approximately 1645. The 2,750-hour commercial pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he flew to the Ada Municipal Airport to have his 1947 vintage airplane repainted at a paint shop at the airport. He further stated that he made a "normal wheel landing" on runway 35. The pilot added that after the airspeed decayed and he lost rudder effectiveness, he "got on the brakes prior to letting the tail wheel down." The ensuing deceleration resulted in the airplane nosing over and coming to rest in the inverted position. The airport manager stated that the pilot called the airport's Unicom station as he approached the airport. The airport manager reported that the winds had been variable from the northeast and southeast most of the afternoon, and at the time of his radio call the pilot was told that the winds were from 070 at 10 knots. The pilot, who was reported to have accumulated over 200 hours in tailwheel equipped airplanes, elected to land straight in on runway 35. Runway 12 (3,103 feet long, 50 feet wide) was available. In the enclosed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot states that "weather was not a factor" and reported wind as 070 variable at less than 5 knots. Examination of the airplane by the pilot and the airport manager revealed structural damage to the vertical stabilizer, the engine firewall, and the airframe. The airplane was equipped with the original heel-operated mechanical (non-hydraulic) drum brakes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1212B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1212B-2011-06-18), registration cancelled 2011-06-18, S/N 5839 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8A - Registry model: [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190104) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5839 - Airframe hours: 3278 - Engines: Continental C85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Max L. Moore - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 22, 1998, 15 hours before - Departed: 68XS, WHITESBORO, TX - Destination: ADH - Airport: ADH, Ada Municipal Airport, runway 35, 6,200 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,750 total, 35 in this make and model, 2,537 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MLC, 44 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 19990329002819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990329002819A), Mar 29, 1999: Luscom 8A, Ada, OK, Substantial damage. Acft lost directional control after landing and flipped over. (From .19) on March 29, 1999, at 1730 central standard time, a Luscombe 8A tailwheel equipped… ## Other investigations on N1212B (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 FTW02LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA055), Dec 7, 2001: Luscombe 8A (N1212B), Haltom City, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced 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.