# NTSB MIA05LA059: Luscombe 8A, N39057, Brookhaven, MS, February 16, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 16, 2005, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Brookhaven, MS - Coordinates: 31.6, -90.416664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6000&lon=-90.4167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61046 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61046/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05LA059 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind and his failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in the airplane ground looping. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had the just taken off and had encountered bad weather, so he decided to discontinue the flight. He further stated that when he returned to land, the weather had deteriorated and the winds were gusting. As he was landing, he said a gust affected the airplane, causing him to balloon and when the airplane came down a second time, the airplane ground-looped, and was damaged. He said that prior to the accident, there had been no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or any of its systems. ## Factual narrative On February 16, 2005, about 1230 central standard time, a Luscombe 8A, N39057, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, ground looped during landing at the Brookhaven Airport, Brookhaven, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot was not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated at Brookhaven, the same day, about 1215. The pilot stated that he had the just taken off from the Brookhaven Airport and had encountered bad weather, so he decided to discontinue the flight and return to his departure airport. He further stated that when he returned to land, the weather had deteriorated a bit and the winds were gusting. As he was landing, he said a gust affected the airplane, causing him to balloon and when the airplane came down a second time it ground-looped, incurring damage. The pilot said that prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N39057](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39057-2013-04-26), registration cancelled 2013-04-26, S/N 1818, built 1941 (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: 1818 - Airframe hours: 3070 - Engines: Continental A65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joe M. Wilkinson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2004, 12.3 hours before - Departed: 1R7, Brookhaven, MS - Destination: SHV, Shreveport, LA - Airport: 1R7, Brookhaven Lincoln County, runway 22, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review October 4, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 1,100 total, 8 in this make and model, 880 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 6 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: JAN, 46 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 20050216003319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050216003319A), Feb 16, 2005: Luscom 8A, Brookhaven, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing pilot lost control of tailwheel aircraft ground looped same and damaged right landing gear and right wing. 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.