# NTSB GAA19CA301: Luscombe 8, N2689K, Heber, UT, June 1, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 1, 2019, 16:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Heber, UT - Coordinates: 40.481945, -111.428054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4819&lon=-111.4281&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99527 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA301 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99527/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99527 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA301 ## Probable cause The pilot's 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: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=8190120), [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: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll in a gusting crosswind, the airplane veered left. He added right rudder, which slowed the veer. However, he saw that the airplane was going to depart the runway, so he added full power and right rudder to abort the landing. The airplane became airborne but "stopped the climb, and slid tail first onto the ground." The right main landing gear collapsed, and the propeller and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 10 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 010° at 10 knots and that, about 10 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 340° at 14 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 04. It is likely that, during the aborted landing, the pilot aerodynamically stalled the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll in a gusting crosswind, the airplane veered to the left. He added right rudder, which slowed the veer, but observed that the airplane was going to depart the runway. He added full power and right rudder to abort the landing. The airplane became airborne, but "stopped the climb, and slid tail first onto the ground." The right main landing gear collapsed, and the propeller and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 10 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 010° at 10 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 10 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 340° at 14 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 04. It is likely that during the aborted landing, the pilot aerodynamically stalled the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2689K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2689K-2022-03-05), registration cancelled 2022-03-05, S/N 5416 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8 (A) - Registry model: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/silvaire-luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5416 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 3222.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 4, 2018 - Departed: HCR, Heber, UT - Destination: HCR, Heber, UT - Airport: HCR, Heber City Muni - Russ Mcdonal, runway 04, 6,898 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; flight engineer, military, commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 24, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 12,383 total, 179.8 in this make and model, 9,697 as pilot in command, 112.5 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KHCR ## 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 20190601005579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190601005579A), Jun 1, 2019: Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, Heber City, UT, Substantial damage. Practicing touch and goes at Heber City Airport, touch down aircraft started drifting to the left added power settled off the runway, right main landing gear… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99527. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473722&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 976 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473723&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.