Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Little Rock, Arkansas
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Paragould, Arkansas
Accident Number: CEN22LA174
Date and Time: March 20, 2022, 10:18 Local
Registration: N1953B
Aircraft: Luscombe 8A
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
Analysis
The student pilot reported that he completed four uneventful touch-and-go landings. During the fifth and final landing, the airplane touched down onto the runway and bounced. During recovery, a crosswind lifted the left wing. The airplane ground looped, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The firewall and rudder sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operations.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing which resulted in a ground loop.
Findings
Aircraft Directional control - Not attained/maintained
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Factual Information
History of Flight
Landing Other weather encounter
Landing Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Landing Nose over/nose down
Pilot Information
Certificate: Student
Age: 46,Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present:
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 3 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: August 18, 2021
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 31 hours (Total, all aircraft), 31 hours (Total, this make and model), 2 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Luscombe
Registration: N1953B
Model/Series: 8A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1948
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 6380
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: March 7, 2022 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1260 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 4 Hrs
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2715 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental Motors
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: A65
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 65 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KJBR,259 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 15 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 09:53 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 206°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 4 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.26 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 13°C / 6°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Paragould, AR
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Paragould, AR
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:
Type of Airspace: Unknown
Airport Information
Airport: Kirk Field PGR
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 290 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 22
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4500 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full stop; Traffic pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 36.0638,-90.50919
Huh...a tail dragger learning to fly in and after 30 hours he was just signed off for solo, about twice the average of every other student pilot out there with a flight school tricycle gear bird. Did he bite off more than he can chew learning flat out in the tail dragger first? Perhaps he needs to go back to the tricycle first.
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