# NTSB LAX01LA090: Luscombe 8F, N747MP, Tombstone, AZ, February 3, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 3, 2001, 08:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Tombstone, AZ - Coordinates: 31.710041, -110.040336 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7100&lon=-110.0403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA, ARIZONA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51436 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51436/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA090 ## Probable cause The pilot's lack of directional control on the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop and inadvertent nose over. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis On landing roll, in an effort to prevent the airplane from departing the left side of the runway, the pilot applied pressure to the right brake and the airplane nosed over. The owner was sitting in the right seat, and was letting his friend fly the airplane. He did not have brakes on the right side. During the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the left edge of the runway. The owner estimated the speed was about 25 miles per hour. He attempted to help steer the airplane back to the centerline. ## Factual narrative On February 3, 2001, about 0845 hours mountain standard time, a Luscombe 8F, N747MP, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at the municipal airport at Tombstone, Arizona. The owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot manipulating the controls was believed to hold a Canadian pilot's certificate. He and the Airline Transport Pilot pilot/owner sustained minor injuries. The personal flight departed Marana Northwest Regional Airpark, Marana, Arizona, about 0750. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed. The owner stated he knew the pilot was a Canadian military pilot. He assumed the pilot held a civilian Canadian certificate, but did not know what type. The pilot had flown the airplane when the owner bought the airplane several years ago, and the owner let him fly it during yearly visits. The owner was sitting in the right seat and was letting his friend fly the airplane from the left seat. The airplane is not equipped with brakes on the right side. During the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the left edge of the runway. The owner estimated the speed was about 25 miles per hour. He attempted to help steer the airplane back to the centerline. The pilot applied pressure to the right brake and the airplane nosed over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N747MP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N747MP-2012-09-10), registration cancelled 2012-09-10, S/N 6271, built 1948 (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: 6271 - Airframe hours: 4250 - Engines: Continental C90 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Merrill Posner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 24, 1999, 84 hours before - Departed: AVQ, MARANA, AZ - Destination: P29, TOMBSTONE, AZ - Airport: P29, Tombstone Muni, runway 24, 4,610 × 65 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; injuries: none; military; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left - Other flight crew; age 76; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 25,000 total, 82 in this make and model, 12,181 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: DUG, 25 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 20010203001319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010203001319A), Feb 3, 2001: Luscom 8F, Tombstone, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) The owner and pilot in command, was sitting in the right seat of the a/c and was letting his friend fly the a/c who was occupying the left seat. The… 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.