# NTSB LAX95LA102: Luscombe 8F, N2183B, Wickenburg, AZ, January 13, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 13, 1995, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Wickenburg, AZ - Location: 33.9706° N, 112.7951° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at WICKENBURG MUNI (E25), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9706&lon=-112.7951&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 19, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29030 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29030/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA102 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL, AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER, WHO HAD SOLE ACCESS TO THE AIRPLANE'S BRAKES. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot passenger (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot passenger - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - brakes(normal) - not available, pilot in command(cfi) - terrain condition - ditch - Nose over, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (CFI) IN THE RIGHT SEAT PERMITTED THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER TO TAKE OFF IN THE CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRPLANE. THE INITIAL GROUND ROLL WAS UNREMARKABLE. HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER ACCELERATING TO BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE CFI ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AS IT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY, BUT HE WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. WHEEL BRAKES WERE INSTALLED ONLY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE. ## Factual narrative On January 13, 1995, at 1530 mountain standard time, a Luscombe 8F, N2183B, owned and operated by Gavin and Patricia Murray, crashed during takeoff at the Wickenburg Municipal Airport, Wickenburg, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airline transport certificated pilot and pilot-rated passenger received minor injuries. The personal flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll on runway 05 the passenger was initially handling the flight controls. After accelerating without difficulty to between 30 and 40 miles per hour, the airplane suddenly veered right, and the pilot took the controls. The pilot further indicated that he was not able to redirect the airplane back onto the runway, so he aborted the takeoff. The airplane crossed a parallel taxiway onto an unpaved area, entered a small ditch, and nosed over. The accident was witnessed by the airplane's owner, who was trying to sell his airplane to the pilot-rated passenger. Neither the airline transport certificated pilot nor passenger made any statement to the airplane's owner regarding having experienced any mechanical problem with the airplane during the accident flight. In February, when the National Transportation Safety Board learned of the accident, the Safety Board received a written statement from the pilot-rated passenger. The passenger reported the circumstances related to the accident flight. He did not assert having experienced any mechanical failure or having encountered gusty winds. The pilot-rated passenger reported that his prior experience flying in the same model of conventional gear airplane was about 2.0 hours. The pilot-in-command completed the Safety Board's "Aircraft Accident Report," NTSB Form 6120.1. In the report, the pilot wrote, in part, that he was "an experienced tail wheel instructor," and was also current in conventional gear airplanes. Regarding controls installed in the airplane, the pilot reported that wheel brake pedals were only located on the left side, and he was seated on the right side. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2183B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2183B), registered now, S/N 6610, built 1949 (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: 6610 - Airframe hours: 1450 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gavin & Patricia Murray - Registered owner: Gavin & Patricia Murray - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1994 - Departed: E25 - Destination: E25, AZ - Airport: E25, Wickenburg, runway 5, 5,050 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; airline transport, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 10,500 total, 13 in this make and model, 6,590 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots, gusting 8 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 19950113004839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950113004839A), Jan 13, 1995: Luscom 8F, Wickenburg, AZ, Substantial damage. Passenger pilot lost control on takeoff. Pilot tried recover but aircraft left runway hit ditch. No right brakes. 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.