LUSCOMBE 8E
Houston, TX — February 19, 2023
Event Information
| Date | February 19, 2023 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN23LA118 |
| Event ID | 20230223106767 |
| Location | Houston, TX |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 29.81819, -95.67261 |
| Airport | West Houston Airport |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | LUSCOMBE |
| Model | 8E |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot’s failure to attain/maintain lateral airplane control during landing, which resulted in an impact with the runway surface.
Full Narrative
On February 19, 2023, at 1330 central standard time, a Luscombe 8E, N2722K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Houston, Texas. The commercial pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot stated that the landing touchdown was uneventful. During landing rollout and about 1,630 ft down the runway, the airplane “lurched to the left,” rolled inverted, and came to rest on the runway. The pilot stated that the left wing strut failed at its midpoint.
Airport surveillance video showed that during landing the airplane’s right wing moved upward and the left wing descended and contacted the runway. The airplane then nosed over onto the runway.
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that it was equipped with heel brakes. Examination of the brake system and flight control system revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The examination of the left wing strut revealed that it had failed in overload. The airplane sustained substantial damage that included damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and left wing strut.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.