# NTSB LAX04CA070: Luscombe 8E, N1338B, San Jose, CA, December 18, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 18, 2003, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: San Jose, CA - Coordinates: 37.332778, -121.819725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3328&lon=-121.8197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58506 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58506/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA070 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. ## 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) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The airplane veered off the runway on the landing rollout, struck a taxiway sign, and came to rest inverted. The pilot made a normal, straight-in approach to the runway, where he completed a three-point landing. During the landing roll, the right main gear and wing lifted. He corrected with right aileron, and the airplane began turning to the right. He then applied left rudder; however, he had released backpressure on the stick during the right aileron correction, and the rudder application was ineffective. The airplane then traveled off of the runway. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On December 18, 2003, about 1130 Pacific standard time, a Luscombe 8E, N1338B, veered off runway 31L on the landing rollout, struck a taxiway sign, and came to rest inverted at the Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV), San Jose, California. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed the Hollister Municipal Airport (3O7), Hollister, California, about 1045. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he made a normal, straight-in approach to the runway, where he completed a three-point landing. During the landing roll, the right main gear and wing lifted. He corrected with right aileron, and the airplane began turning to the right. He then applied left rudder; however, he had released backpressure on the stick during the right aileron correction, and the rudder application was ineffective. The airplane then traveled off of the runway, impacted a taxiway sign, and came to rest inverted. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1338B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1338B-2007-05-03), registration cancelled 2007-05-03, S/N 5965, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8E - Registry model: [Luscombe 8E](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8e) (registry code 8190112) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5695 - Airframe hours: 1805.9 - Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael R. Ettl - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 2003, 13.6 hours before - Departed: 3O7, HOLLISTER, CA - Destination: RHV, SAN JOSE, CA - Airport: RHV, Reid-Hillview, runway 31L, 3,099 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 488 total, 22 in this make and model, 356 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: RHV ## 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 20031218035369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031218035369A), Dec 18, 2003: Luscom 8E, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) N1338B was on a personal solo flight from hollister municipal airport (3O7) to Reid-Hillview Of Santa Clara county airport (krhv). The aircraft made a… 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.