# NTSB GAA19CA127: Luscombe 8, N71155, Casa Grande, AZ, January 5, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 5, 2019, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Casa Grande, AZ - Coordinates: 32.954444, -111.765556 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9544&lon=-111.7656&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98827 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98827/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98827 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA127 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain yaw control and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during an aborted landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing, as soon as the main landing gear touched down, the airplane yawed left. He tried to correct with right rudder and applied full power for a go-around. During the go-around, the airplane seemed to continue to yaw left, and he attempted to correct with full right rudder, but the airplane continued to drift left, aerodynamically stalled, and subsequently collided with the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing, as soon as the main landing gear touched down, the airplane yawed to the left. He tried to correct with right rudder and applied full power for a go-around. During the go-around, the airplane seemed to continue to yaw to the left, correcting with full right rudder. The airplane continued to drift left, aerodynamically stalled, and subsequently, collided with the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71155](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71155), registered now, S/N 2582, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8 (A) - 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: 2582 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 3717 - Engines: Continental A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2018 - Departed: CGZ, Casa Grande, AZ - Destination: CGZ, Casa Grande, AZ - Airport: CGZ, Casa Grande Muni, runway 05, 5,200 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 11, 2018; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 448 total, 367 in this make and model, 392 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KCGZ ## 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 20190105003689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190105003689A), Jan 5, 2019: Luscombe 8A, Casa Grande, AZ, Substantial damage. Crashed aircraft during go around attempt after bounced landing on runway 5. ## Other investigations on N71155 (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 NYC93LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA130), Jun 20, 1993: Luscombe 8A (N71155), Beach City, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND HIS DIVERTED ATTENTION WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98827. 893 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 540 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470380&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 5 photos, 353 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470381&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.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.