Luscombe 8 N71617

Summary

On 5 April 2018 at about 19:45 local time, a Luscombe 8 registered N71617 was involved in an accident near Vernon, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 April 2018 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Vernon, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Wilbarger County (F05)

Coordinates

34.2253, -99.2831

Aircraft

Luscombe 8

Registration

N71617

Category

Airplane

Year built

1946

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fairview → Vernon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA205

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the three-point landing, almost immediately after touchdown, the airplane veered to the left, ground looped to the left, and the right main landing gear collapsed. He added that the airplane came to rest facing 180° opposite of the landing direction in the grass off the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right aileron. He further reported that when loading the airplane onto the trailer for recovery, he noticed there was a crack in the right gear leg just above the weld to the axle. He added that 2/3 of the brake showed fresh metal, and the other 1/3 was rusted and corroded. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 230° at 9 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The pilot landed on runway 20.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.