Summary
On March 25, 1995, a Luscombe 8A (N45631) was involved in an incident near Zanesville, OH. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while taxiing after landing. Related factors were the unfavorable (gusty) wind condition, and the pilot's improper compensation for wind conditions.
On Saturday March 25, 1995, at 1200 eastern standard time, a Luscombe 8A, N45631, nosed over while taxing at Parr airport near Zanesville, Ohio. The pilot and the one passenger were uninjured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated in Urbana, Ohio, at 1050, and was operated under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported that after a normal landing on runway 28, he slowed the airplane to a fast walk pace, and prepared to exit the active runway. He stated that as he began the right turn off the runway, a gust of wind lifted the tail, and the airplane nosed over.
This incident is documented in NTSB report BFO95LA037. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N45631.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while taxiing after landing. Related factors were the unfavorable (gusty) wind condition, and the pilot's improper compensation for wind conditions.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On Saturday March 25, 1995, at 1200 eastern standard time, a Luscombe 8A, N45631, nosed over while taxing at Parr airport near Zanesville, Ohio. The pilot and the one passenger were uninjured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated in Urbana, Ohio, at 1050, and was operated under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported that after a normal landing on runway 28, he slowed the airplane to a fast walk pace, and prepared to exit the active runway. He stated that as he began the right turn off the runway, a gust of wind lifted the tail, and the airplane nosed over. In the Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation section of the written accident report, the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had received "...additional instruction on taxi procedures with gusting crosswinds [with the possibility] of quartering tailwinds."
The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the wind was out of 350 to 010 degrees, at 5 knots gusting to 15 knots. He reported that he had applied right rudder, was about to apply right brake for the turn, and had the flight control "...stick all the way back in my lap..." when the accident occurred.
According to an article published in Aviation Safety, a basic rule for downwind taxiing is: "Keep that control wheel/stick full forward and the elevators full down. If very high tailwinds ever get under "up" elevators, you may get flipped..." (Aviation Safety, Vol. XV, "The Meaning of 'Command'" Kelly, B., p.13). An excerpt of this article is appended to this report.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# BFO95LA037