# NTSB WPR09CA424: Silvaire Luscombe 8A, N2218K, Sandy, OR, August 28, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 28, 2009, 12:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Sandy, OR - Coordinates: 45.401943, -122.228614 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4019&lon=-122.2286&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74622 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA424 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74622/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74622 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA424 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to continue the landing rather than execute a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed and altitude during the approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The wind was calm as the pilot approached the airport's 2,115-foot-long Runway 26 and attempted to land. The pilot stated that he terminated his first two approaches to the runway because he was too fast and too high. In part, this event was due to "obstacles" in proximity to the approach end of the runway. The Federal Aviation Administration's "Airport Facility Directory" indicates that the closest obstacle to the runway's approach end is located 115 feet from the runway's extended centerline. During the pilot's third attempted landing, he was also too high and too fast but he decided to land anyway. The airplane touched down long, overran the departure end, impacted vines, and nosed over. According to the pilot, there was no mechanical malfunction with his airplane and the accident could have been prevented had he made a go-around. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the wind was calm as he approached the airport's 2,115-foot-long runway 26 and attempted to land. The pilot stated that he terminated his first two approaches to the runway because he was too fast and too high. In part, this event was due to "obstacles" on the approach end of the runway. During the pilot's third attempted landing, he was also too high and too fast, but he landed anyway. The airplane touched down long, overran the departure end, impacted vines, and nosed over. According to the pilot, there was no mechanical malfunction with his airplane, and the accident could have been prevented had he made a go-around. The Federal Aviation Administration's "Airport Facility Directory" indicates that a 58-foot-tall tree is located 225 feet from the runway's approach end and 115 feet right of the runway's centerline. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2218K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2218K), registered now, S/N 4945, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SILVAIRE LUSCOMBE 8A (8A) - Registry model: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/silvaire-luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4945 - Airframe hours: 2857 - Engines: Continental A65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 2008, 21 hours before - Departed: 7S9, Hubbard, OR - Destination: 03S, Sandy, OR - Airport: 03S, Sandy River, runway 26, 2,115 × 100 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 84; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 478 total, 300 in this make and model, 341 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20090828016479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090828016479A), Aug 28, 2009: Silvai LUSCOMBE8A, Sandy, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) While attempting to land at Sandy River Airport, a grass strip of approximately 2100 feet, the pilot was waived off by an ultralight pilot and police… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 2, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74622. 534 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 534 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319557&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.