# NTSB WPR11CA271: Luscombe 8F, N1459B, McCall, ID, June 21, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 20, 2011, 18:45 local (Jun 21, 2011, 00:45 UTC) - Place: McCall, ID - Coordinates: 44.88861, -116.101943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8886&lon=-116.1019&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 80832 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA271 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80832/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80832 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA271 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed that resulted in a stall/mush. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate spacing from the aircraft ahead of him. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Luscombe 8F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=8190114), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing behind an aircraft on the airport taxiway parallel to runway 34 due to a runway closure. The airplane landed hard causing the airplane to bounce at which point the pilot, realizing he was too close to the aircraft in front of him, added power to go around. The airplane lifted off in a left climbing turn over the runway, stalled and subsequently descended into a grassy field. During the landing roll, the airplane hit an irrigation ditch causing the right landing gear to collapse and the airplane to ground loop. The aircraft sustained damage to its right wing, horizontal stabilizer and right landing gear. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal flight. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was landing behind an aircraft on the airport taxiway parallel to runway 34 due to a runway closure. The airplane landed hard causing the airplane to bounce at which point the pilot, realizing he was too close to the aircraft in front of him, added power to go around. The pilot lifted off in a left climbing turn over the runway when the airplane stalled and subsequently descended into a grassy field. During the landing roll, the airplane hit an irrigation ditch causing the right landing gear to collapse and the airplane to ground loop. The aircraft sustained damage to its right wing, horizontal stabilizer and right landing gear. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1459B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1459B), registered now, S/N 6086, built 1948 (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: 6086 - Airframe hours: 2318 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C90 SERIES 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Davis James R - Registered owner: Davis James R - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Condition, September 5, 2010 - Departed: 453, Joseph, OR - Destination: MYL, McCall, ID - Airport: KMYL, McCall ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 20, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 266° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: MYL ## 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 20110620013999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110620013999A), Jun 20, 2011: Luscombe 8F, Mccall, ID, Substantial damage. The pilot [privacy data omitted] was landing at Mccall in a flight of three. His Luscombe landed long, floated, and bounced. He attempted to a go-around, but… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80832. 12.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 12.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351253&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Airplane Right Side - Courtesy of FAA (item 2, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Airplane%20Right%20Side%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-Master.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.