LAX95LA055

NTSB accident investigation · Luscombe 8E · Hemet, CA · December 20, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
December 20, 1994, 13:55 local (21:55 UTC)
Place
Hemet, CA
Injuries
3 uninjured
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N1217BLuscombe 8EN7211VIntermountain Mfg. Callair A-9
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 16, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
28996

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The other aircraft pilot's inadequate bounced landing recovery and his failure to maintain directional control.

The pilot's inadequate bounced landing recovery and his failure to maintain directional control.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightLanding - flare/touchdown
Flare - misjudgedPilot in command
Recovery from bounced landing - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - flare/touchdown
Object - aircraft parked/standing
On ground/water collision with objectStanding - engine(s) operating
Flare - misjudgedPilot of other aircraft
Recovery from bounced landing - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause
Directional control - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

A Luscombe 8E, N1217B, collided with an intermountain callair A-9, N7211V, while landing at the Hemet, California, airport. According to witness observations and the pilots' statements, the Luscombe was in the landing flare and bounced on touchdown; the pilot then lost control, dragged a wing tip, and veered into the callair A-9, which was on an adjacent taxiway performing an engine run-up.

A Luscombe 8E, N1217B, collided with an intermountain callair A-9, N7211V, while landing at the Hemet, California, airport. According to witness observations and the pilot statements, the Luscombe was in the landing flare and bounced on touchdown; the pilot then lost control, dragged a wing tip, and veered into the callair A-9, which was on an adjacent taxiway performing an engine run-up.

Factual narrative

On December 20, 1994, at 1355 Pacific standard time, a Luscombe 8E, N1217B, collided with an Intermountain Callair A-9, N7211V, while landing at the Hemet, California, airport. According to witness observations, the Luscombe was in the landing flare and bounced on touchdown; the pilot then lost control, drug a wing tip, and veered into the Callair A-9, which was on an adjacent taxiway performing an engine run-up. The Luscombe was owned and operated by the pilot and was concluding a local area personal flight. The Callair A-9 was owned and operated by Sailplane Enterprises, Inc., of Hemet, California, and was preparing to tow gliders aloft. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and included calm wind conditions. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and the one passenger on the Luscombe were not injured. The certificated commercial pilot and sole occupant of the Callair A-9 was not injured.

According to ground witnesses and the Luscombe pilot's statement, the Callair A-9 was on a parallel taxiway to runway 23 facing away from the final approach course and performing an engine run-up. The Luscombe was in the landing flare when the pilot appeared to bounce, lose control, and drag the right wing tip on the ground. The Luscombe then veered off the runway and collided with the Callair from the rear.

On December 20, 1994, at 1355 Pacific standard time, a Luscombe 8E, N1217B, collided with an Intermountain Callair A-9, N7211V, while landing at the Hemet, California, airport. According to witness observations, the Luscombe was in the landing flare and bounced on touchdown; the pilot then lost control, drug a wing tip, and veered into the Callair A-9, which was on an adjacent taxiway performing an engine run-up. The Luscombe was owned and operated by the pilot and was concluding a local area personal flight. The Callair A-9 was owned and operated by Sailplane Enterprises, Inc., of Hemet, California, and was preparing to tow gliders aloft. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and included calm wind conditions. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and the one passenger on the Luscombe were not injured. The certificated commercial pilot and sole occupant of the Callair A-9 was not injured.

According to ground witnesses and the Luscombe pilot's statement, the Callair A-9 was on a parallel taxiway to runway 23 facing away from the final approach course and performing an engine run-up. The Luscombe was in the landing flare when the pilot appeared to bounce, lose control, and drag the right wing tip on the ground. The Luscombe then veered off the runway and collided with the Callair from the rear.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N1217B
Reported as
Luscombe 8E
Category
Airplane
Serial number
5844
Airframe hours
1,664
Engine
Continental C-85, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Donald E. Bowden
Registered owner
Donald E. Bowden
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · December 1, 1994 · 3 hours before
Airport
HMT · Hemet-Ryan, runway 23, 4,314 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Registration
N7211V
Reported as
Intermountain Mfg. Callair A-9 (CALLAIR A-)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1248
Airframe hours
5,705
Engine
Lycoming O-540, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business · Part 91
Operator
Sailplane Enterprises, Inc.
Registered owner
Sailplane Enterprises, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection
100 hour · December 7, 1994 · 31 hours before
Airport
HMT · Hemet-Ryan, runway 23, 4,314 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N1217B
Age
66
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,500 total · 2,500 in this make and model · 12 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N7211V
Age
63
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Center
Flight hours
3,596 total · 650 in this make and model · 3,490 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
75 °F

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.