- Date
- November 25, 1995, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place
- Kutztown, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1109KLuscombe 8A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 27, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951125038399A
- Case key
- 39126
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's improper use of brakes during the landing roll resulting in the airplane nosing over.
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.
Analysis
The pilot stated, '[I] made a smooth landing on turf runway 28, applied brakes too heavily on frost turf before tail was down. Slid for some length and then nosed over.' Additionally, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On November 25, 1995, about 0830 eastern standard time, a Luscombe 8A, N1109K, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during the landing roll at the Kutztown Airport, Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed from New Hanover, Pennsylvania. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. There was no flight plan for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated in the NTSB form 6120.1/2:
... [I] Made a smooth landing on turf runway 28, applied brakes too heavily on frost turf before tail was down. Slid for some length and then nosed over.
The pilot further stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
Additionally, according to the Airport Facility Directory, runway 28 was a 2280 foot long, and 200 foot wide turf runway with trees at both ends.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1109K
- Reported as
- Luscombe 8A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3836
- Airframe hours
- 952
- Engine
- Continental A65-8F, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William E. Goodwin
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 22, 1995 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- N62 · New Hanover, PA
- Destination
- N31 · PA
- Airport
- N31 · Kutztown, runway 28, 2,280 × 200 ft, grass/turf
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 73 total · 5 in this make and model · 39 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 37 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.