WPR24LA102

NTSB accident investigation · Luscombe 8E · Truth or Consequences, NM · February 23, 2024

Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal report
Date
February 23, 2024, 08:45 local (15:45 UTC)
Place
Truth or Consequences, NM · airport environment
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N2669KLuscombe 8E
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Investigation class
Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
NTSB office
Western Pacific Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20240223001269A
Case key
193885

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 failure to maintain airplane control during approach and landing that resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent impact with a berm.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide pathAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedLuscombe 8E: 1 caseAll aircraft: 809 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotLuscombe 8E: 19 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedLuscombe 8E: 12 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was on a personal flight to the accident airport. Upon arrival at the airport, the reported wind from ASOS (Automated Surface Observing Systems) was 330 degrees at 5 knots. He entered a left downwind for runway 31 and had planned to do a wheel touch-and-go landing. The pilot stated that he was slower than intended and over the runway threshold he added power to maintain a wheel landing attitude. He failed to add enough power to fully arrest the descent and had to increase back pressure pitch input to stabilize the descent. The pilot stated that after touchdown the airplane had a slight nose left attitude and began to turn to the left. He corrected with right rudder and added more power to keep a nose-level attitude but was not able to fully correct the left turn. The pilot then applied full power to go around, but the airplane was already too slow to take off and the airplane departed the runway. He reduced all power and attempted to brake but the airplane struck a berm and nosed over coming to rest inverted about 30 ft from the runway edge. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and tail. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N2669K
Reported as
Luscombe 8E
Category
Airplane
Serial number
5396
Built
1947
Airframe hours
2,654
Engine
Cont Motor O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · December 11, 2023 · 10.6 hours before
Departed
BRG · Belen, NM
Destination
Same as departure
Airport
TCS · Truth Or Consequences Muni, runway 13/31, 7,202 × 75 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

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
38
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
September 1, 2023
Seat
Left
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
133 total · 13 in this make and model · 87 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
360° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
46 °F, dew point 18 °F
Altimeter
30.27 inHg
Observed at
KTCS, 20 nm away
METAR
KTCS 231553Z AUTO 36007KT 10SM CLR 08/M08 A3027 RMK AO2 SLP214 T00831078

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.4 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N2669K · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.