# NTSB NYC04CA159: Luscombe 8F, N803B, Andover, NJ, July 4, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 4, 2004, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Andover, NJ
- Coordinates: 41.008609, -74.738052
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0086&lon=-74.7381&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 59576
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA159
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59576/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA159

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during approach.  A factor was windshear.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - aircraft control - not maintained (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

While on final approach for runway 21, over the threshold, the airplane encountered windshear.  The pilot was unable to control the rate of descent, and the airplane impacted the runway.  The reported wind at an airport approximately 15 miles northeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 150 degrees at 7 knots, varying between 120 degrees and 210 degrees.

## Factual narrative

On July 4, 2004, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8F, N803B, was substantially damaged while landing at Aeroflex-Andover Airport (12N), Andover, New Jersey.  The certificated private pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that she was on final approach for the turf runway parallel to runway 21; a 1,981-foot-long, 150-foot-wide runway.  As the airplane crossed the runway threshold, it encountered a severe downdraft.  Before the pilot could arrest the descent, the airplane impacted the runway and came to rest inverted.  The pilot further stated the prevailing winds were from the east, over a ridgeline, which caused downdrafts.

The reported wind at an airport approximately 15 miles northeast of the accident site, at 1653, was from 150 degrees at 7 knots, varying between 120 degrees and 210 degrees.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N803B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N803B), registered now, S/N 6733 (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: 6733
- Engines: Continental C-90 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mariana E Gosnell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 12N, Andover, NJ
- Destination: 12N
- Airport: 12N, Aeroflex-Andover Airport, runway 21, 1,981 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review March 18, 2003; flight hours: 1,007 total, 924 in this make and model, 904 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 7 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: FWN, 15 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 20040704022449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040704022449A), Jul 4, 2004: Luscom 8F, Andover, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) While practicing takeoffs and landings at Aeroflex Andover airport (12N), the pilot apparently landed the aircraft hard on the left main landing gear.…

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.