# NTSB GAA20CA028: Luscombe 8, N2037B, Lebanon, NH, October 15, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 15, 2019, 18:45 UTC - Place: Lebanon, NH - Coordinates: 43.62611, -72.304168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6261&lon=-72.3042&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100445 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100445/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100445 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA028 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a ditch. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 8F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8190114), [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: [Luscombe 8F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing and shortly after touchdown, a wind gust lifted the right wing, and the airplane veered left. The pilot attempted to apply control inputs and added power to recover, but the airplane exited the runway and impacted a drainage ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during landing, shortly after touchdown, a wind gust lifted the right wing and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot attempted to apply control inputs and added power to maintain directional control, however, the airplane exited the runway to the left and impacted a drainage ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2037B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2037B), registered now, S/N 6464, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8 (F) - 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: 6464 - Year built: 1948 - Engines: Continental C90 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Silvaire LLC - Registered owner: Silvaire LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: LEB, Lebanon Muni, runway 25, 5,496 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, unknown; last flight review July 10, 2019; flight hours: 197.1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KLEB ## 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 20191015024299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191015024299A), Oct 15, 2019: Luscombe 8F, Lebanon, NH, Substantial damage. On the afternoon of October 15, 2019 at 3:00 pm the pilot of a Luscombe aircraft, N2037B, serial number 6464, was completing a check flight after an annual… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100445. 954 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 401 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481104&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement to the Insurance Company (item 2, .PDF, 352 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481105&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20to%20the%20Insurance%20Company-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481106&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 4, .PDF, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481107&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.