Loss of Control on Ground: Luscombe 8A, N71155, accident occurred January 05, 2019 at Casa Grande Municipal Airport (KCGZ), Pinal County, Arizona

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Scottsdale, Arizona

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

https://registry.faa.gov/N71155

Location: Casa Grande, AZ
Accident Number: GAA19CA127
Date & Time: 01/05/2019, 1300 MST
Registration: N71155
Aircraft: Luscombe 8
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

Analysis 

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing, as soon as the main landing gear touched down, the airplane yawed left. He tried to correct with right rudder and applied full power for a go-around. During the go-around, the airplane seemed to continue to yaw left, and he attempted to correct with full right rudder, but the airplane continued to drift left, aerodynamically stalled, and subsequently collided with the ground.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.

The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to maintain yaw control and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during an aborted landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Findings

Aircraft
Yaw control - Not attained/maintained (Cause)
Angle of attack - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing-flare/touchdown
Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Attempted remediation/recovery

Approach-VFR go-around
Aerodynamic stall/spin
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Sport Pilot
Age: 54, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:No 
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 06/14/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 02/11/2018
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 448 hours (Total, all aircraft), 367 hours (Total, this make and model), 392 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 85 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 34 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Luscombe
Registration: N71155
Model/Series: 8 A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1946
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 2582
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 03/01/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1260 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3717 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: A-65
Registered Owner: Step Too LLC
Rated Power: 65 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KCGZ, 1462 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1956 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 195°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.99 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / 2°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Casa Grande, AZ (CGZ)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Casa Grande, AZ (CGZ)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1254 MST
Type of Airspace: Class G 

Airport Information

Airport: Casa Grande Muni (CGZ)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 1464 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 05
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5200 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Go Around; Traffic Pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion:None 
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude:  32.954444, -111.765556 (est)