# NTSB LAX07CA088: Luscombe 8A, N515SF, Compton, CA, February 17, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 17, 2007, 13:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Compton, CA - Coordinates: 33.889999, -118.243614 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8900&lon=-118.2436&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65319 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65319/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA088 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout. A contributing factor was the passenger's interference with the pilot's manipulation of the controls. ## 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 - control interference - inadvertent, passenger (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - aircraft parked/standing - object - wall/barricade ## Analysis The airplane veered off the runway during the landing rollout and impacted a parked airplane and a wall. The pilot had allowed his passenger, who was not a current pilot, to land the airplane. The pilot said the passenger did not remove his feet from the rudder pedals during rollout despite the pilot's repeated requests. This control interference hindered the pilot's ability to maintain control of the airplane. The pilot said there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On February 17, 2007, about 1350 Pacific standard time, a Luscombe 8A, N515SF, owned and operated by the pilot, veered off runway 7R during landing rollout at the Compton Airport, Compton, California. The airplane impacted a parked and unoccupied airplane and then came to rest upon impacting a wall, on the north side of runway 7L. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Compton about 1315. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he allowed the passenger, who was not a current pilot, to land the airplane, but that he was "following" him on the flight controls. The passenger did not remove his feet from the rudder pedals during landing rollout, despite the pilot's repeated requests. The airport manager verbally reported to the Safety Board investigator that he observed evidence of a "medium intensity" tire skid mark on the runway's asphalt surface commencing about 600 feet upwind of the runway's threshold. The mark corresponded with the airplane's right main landing gear tire. There was no evidence of a corresponding rubber transfer mark onto the asphalt from the left main landing gear tire. The rubber transfer mark from the right main tire became "heavy" by the time the airplane had crossed over runway 7L and was veering toward the parked airplane, located about 130 feet north of runway 7L's north edge. The pilot stated to the Safety Board investigator that no mechanical malfunction or failure occurred during the landing. He indicated that airplane control was lost because of the passenger's interference with his application of pressure to the rudder pedals. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N515SF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N515SF), registered now, S/N 3766, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8A - 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: 3766 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David H. Webster - Registered owner: David H. Webster - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CPM, Compton, CA - Destination: CPM, Compton, CA - Airport: CPM, Compton, runway 7R, 3,322 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 176 total, 55 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 10 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: HHR, 5 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 20070217013339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070217013339A), Feb 17, 2007: Luscom 8A, Compton, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot PIC [privacy data omitted] was in the l/h seat of his Luscombe, passenger [privacy data omitted] was in the r/h seat, and both were at the… ## Other investigations on N515SF (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 NYC78DFJ04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78DFJ04), Oct 30, 1977: Luscombe 8A (N515SF), La Fayette, NY, substantial damage 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.