# NTSB WPR14CA266: Luscombe 8A, N77917, Tucson, AZ, June 23, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 23, 2014, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.109443, -110.937774 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1094&lon=-110.9378&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89517 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA266 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89517/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89517 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA266 ## Probable cause The student pilot's use of excessive brakes during taxi, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8A, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=8190104), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot was taxiing in a tailwheel equipped airplane for takeoff on the second leg of a solo cross-country flight. During the taxi, she noticed she was approaching a hold short line and applied the brakes to stop at the line. She said while depressing the heel brakes her foot became wedged and she pressed the brake harder than necessary. The tail of the airplane came up, dropping the nose to the ground. The airplane hesitated with its tail in the air for a moment, and then fell over on its back. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and the fuselage. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot was taxiing in a tailwheel equipped airplane for takeoff on the second leg of a solo cross-country flight. During the taxi, she noticed she was approaching a hold short line and applied the brakes to stop at the line. She said while depressing the heel brakes her foot became wedged and she pressed the brake harder than necessary. The tail of the airplane came up, dropping the nose to the ground. The airplane hesitated with its tail in the air for a moment, and then fell over on its back. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N77917](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N77917), registered now, S/N 3644, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8A (A) - Registry model: [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3644 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 1350 - Engines: Continental A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2013 - Departed: KTUS, Tucson, AZ - Destination: KTUS, Tucson, AZ - Airport: TUS, Tucson Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 16; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 19, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 185 total, 115 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 10 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °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 20140623010499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140623010499A), Jun 23, 2014: Luscombe 8A, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. On June 23, 2014, miss. Airman was operating N77917 a 1946 Luscombe 8A while departing kryn during her (first) cross country solo. After receiving instruction… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89517. 336 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 336 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416484&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.