# NTSB NYC94LA118: Luscombe 8F, N1946X, Leesburg, VA, July 10, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 10, 1994, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place: Leesburg, VA
- Location: 39.0780° N, 77.5575° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LEESBURG EXEC (JYO), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0780&lon=-77.5575&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 5, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38785
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38785/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA118

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate incompensation for wind conditions resulting in loss of directional control.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - weather condition - tailwind
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command
- Overrun, landing - roll
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - aborted
  - object - tree(s)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED SHE LANDED ON RUNWAY 17, AND IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY, BECAUSE OF A STRONG TAILWIND. THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT, AND LEAVE THE RUNWAY.  THE PILOT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A COLLISION WITH TREES AND POSSIBLY GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL; THEREFORE, SHE APPLIED ENGINE POWER AND ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF.  THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, AND COLLIDED WITH THE TREES.

## Factual narrative

On Sunday, July 10, 1994, at 1045 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8F, N1946X, registered to and piloted by Janice M. Hundshamer, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees  at Godfrey Field, Leesburg, Virginia.  The pilot received minor injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.  The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, she radioed for an airport advisory approximately 5 miles from the airport.  As she entered the traffic pattern the pilot heard an airplane that had just taken off call the UNICOM and tell them, "...the wind was a little tricky and that he recommend they change runway's."  The pilot of N1946X wrote in her statement that the UNICOM operator replied, "...we're going to as soon as the Luscombe lands."

The pilot wrote in her statement:

When I touched down in a three point attitude, there      was a wind condition that caused the plane to      immediately swerve to the right at a fast rate.  Left      rudder had no effect, and I left the runway...I didn't      want to go down the steep hill nor directly into the      trees so I applied full power to try to go over the      trees.  The plane clipped the top of the trees...[the      airplane turned] 180 degrees and came down in the trees      and brush in a nose down attitude.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1946X (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 6373
- Airframe hours: 2364
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Janice M. Hundshamer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 1994, 18 hours before
- Departed: VA62, GRASS PATCH, VA
- Destination: JY0, VA
- Airport: JYO, Godfrey Field, runway 17, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total, 50 in this make and model, 103 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °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 19940710017879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940710017879A), Jul 10, 1994: Luscom 8F, Leesburg, VA, Substantial damage. Drifted off runway landing in quartering tailwind. Elected go around to avoid trees but struck same.

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.

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