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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 16, 2003 · Luscombe 8E · N1614K

Longmont, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 16, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Longmont, CO
Aircraft
Luscombe 8E
Tail Number
N1614K
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN03LA144

The pilot said he was practicing touch-and-go landings. He said that on a previous 2-point landing, "it felt like someone was pushing and releasing the brakes. It was not severe so [he] continued to takeoff speed and rotated." The next landing was a 3-point landing and "touchdown and rollout initially were fine." When he applied heel brakes, "the left wheel folded and started flapping" and the airplane yawed to the left. The pilot corrected with right rudder. The pilot said there was insufficient airflow to hold the tail down, and the nose and prop struck the ground. The airplane skidded approximately 10 feet on the nose before nosing over on the runway. Postaccident inspection by a mechanic revealed the left main tire was flat. He said the tire looked normal and "showed no protrusions." The mechanic said the valve stem was "torn from the tube with no indications of dry-rotting in the rubber or misalignment of the tube. There was a small hole, most likely caused by pinching during the rollout of the aircraft with the tube deflated."

NTSB Probable Cause

Separation of the landing gear tire valve stem resulting in the left main tire deflating, and the pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control.

Full Narrative

On August 16, 2003, approximately 1120 mountain daylight time, a Luscombe 8E, N1614K, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over and impacted terrain while landing at Vance Brand Airport, Longmont, Colorado. The commercial pilot-in-command and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Longmont at approximately 1030. The pilot said he was practicing touch-and-go landings. He said that on a previous 2-point landing, "it felt like someone was pushing and releasing the brakes. It was not severe so [he] continued to takeoff speed and rotated." The next landing was a 3-point landing and "touchdown and rollout initially were fine." When he applied heel brakes, "the left wheel folded and started flapping," and the airplane yawed to the left. The pilot corrected with right rudder. The pilot said there was insufficient airflow to hold the tail down, and the nose and prop struck the ground, skidding approximately 10 feet on the nose. The airplane nosed over on the runway. Postaccident inspection by a mechanic revealed a flat left main tire was flat. He said the tire looked normal and "showed no protrusions." The mechanic said the valve stem was "torn from the tube with no indications of dry-rotting in the rubber or misalignment of the tube. There was a small hole, most likely caused by pinching during the rollout of the aircraft with the tube deflated." The top of the vertical stabilizer was crushed, the right wing spar and lift strut were bent, the aft portion of the fuselage was buckled, both main landing gear wheel pants were fractured, the right and left passenger doors were separated, and the lower engine cowling and propeller spinner were scraped.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:20 MDT
Nearest AirportVance Brand (0nm)
Runway29
Runway Length4800 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLuscombe 8E
Tail NumberN1614K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-290-D · Reciprocating · 125
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 22 · First Class · None
Crew 2None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind30° @ 12 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point46
Altimeter30.20 inHg
Observation Time17:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data