# NTSB WPR25LA185: Silvaire Luscombe 8A, N28545, San Andreas, CA, June 20, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 20, 2025, 11:55 local (18:55 UTC)
- Place: San Andreas, CA · KCPU
- Coordinates: 38.146111, -120.64816
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1461&lon=-120.6482&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200372
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA185
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200372/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200372
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA185

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing roll following an encounter with a dust devil.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: dust devil/whirlwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that after performing a wheel landing, the tailwheel settled onto the runway. Shortly after, the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind or dust devil, which turned the airplane about 90° to the left. Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway, traveled down an embankment, and both main landing gear collapsed before the airplane came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 31 with wind from 270° at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. One witness characterized the wind as a spiraling wind with extreme lift.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N28545](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N28545), registered now, S/N 1374, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SILVAIRE LUSCOMBE 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: 1374
- Year built: 1940
- Airframe hours: 9591
- Engines: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 13, 2024, 17 hours before
- Departed: K069, Petaluma, CA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: CPU, Calaveras County/Maury Rasmussen Fld, runway 31, 3,602 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 8, 2025; seat: left; flight hours: 2,082 total, 1,726 in this make and model, 2,029 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 76 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Turbulence: Moderate
- Observed at: KCPU
- METAR: KCPU 201855Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 25/02 A2990 RMK AO2 T02480019

## Other investigations on N28545 (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX73FUG25](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX73FUG25), Nov 17, 1972: Luscombe 8A (N28545), Chino, CA, substantial damage

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200372. 15.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 13.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19014020&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20WPR25LA185%20signed_redact-Rel.pdf
- Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19031953&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=All%20witness_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 913 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18920116&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20pic%20array%20WPR25LA185%20San%20Andras,%20CA%20N28545-Rel.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.

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