# NTSB SEA03LA194: Luscombe 8F, N9913C, Bremerton, WA, September 24, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 2003, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Bremerton, WA - Coordinates: 47.499168, -122.75 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4992&lon=-122.7500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58002 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58002/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA194 ## Probable cause Aircraft control was not maintained during the landing roll which resulted in the aircraft nosing over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing roll, he believes that he relaxed back pressure on the control stick which allowed the tail to rise as he applied left rudder input. The aircraft veered to the left and the pilot applied some braking action to avoid a departure from the side of the runway. The nose dropped and the aircraft subsequently nosed over. During a post accident inspection of the wheels and brake system, there was no evidence found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 2003, at 1145 Pacific daylight time, a Luscombe 8F, N9913C, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, nosed over during the landing roll at Bremerton National Airport, Bremerton, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The local flight originated in Bremerton about one hour and 15 minutes prior to the accident. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that he was practicing a short field landing. The touchdown was made in a three point attitude on runway 1. The pilot stated that although he does not have a clear memory of what happened, but expected that he relaxed back pressure on the control stick which allowed the tail to rise as he applied some left rudder input. The aircraft veered to the left and the pilot applied some braking action to avoid a departure from the side of the runway. The nose dropped and the aircraft subsequently nosed over. During the recovery of the aircraft and afterward when the aircraft was righted, the braking system and wheels were inspected by a certificated mechanic and a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Renton, Washington, Flight Standards District Office. During the inspection, there was no evidence found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction. Damage to the aircraft included the top of the horizontal stabilizer and rudder were crushed downward, the fuselage skin was deformed just aft of the main landing gear, and the left side wing tip leading edge was crushed aft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9913C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9913C), registered now, S/N S-17, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8F - Registry model: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8F](https://openairdocs.org/model/silvaire-luscombe-8f) (registry code 8190130) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: S-17 - Airframe hours: 2291 - Engines: Continental C-90-12 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Harold D. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 2003, 22 hours before - Departed: PWT, Bremerton, WA - Destination: PWT - Airport: PWT, Bremerton National, runway 01, 6,200 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 6, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 3,496 total, 535 in this make and model, 3,360 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: PWT ## 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 20030924023539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030924023539A), Sep 24, 2003: Luscom 8F, Bremerton, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was attempting to land on runway 19 @ Bremerton intl. Airport (pwt). Pilot stated that the aircraft touched down on the threshold markings on… 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.