On April 28, 1984, a Luscombe 8A (registration N1955B) was involved in an aviation accident near Shelbyville, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the ground roll after landing, which resulted in the aircraft veering off the runway and collapsing the right main landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A tailwheel-equipped aircraft veered left after a normal stall landing. The pilot applied rudder and brakes, but the plane exited the runway, causing the right main gear to collapse.
What happened
The incident occurred following a routine landing sequence. The pilot executed a standard three-point, full-stall touchdown on the runway. After the aircraft settled onto its wheels, it rolled forward for a short distance before beginning to veer sharply to the left.
Recognizing the loss of directional control, the pilot immediately applied right rudder and engaged both wheel brakes in an attempt to correct the trajectory. Despite these corrective inputs, the aircraft continued its leftward deviation. The plane eventually departed the paved surface of the runway. As it exited the runway environment, the right main landing gear collapsed under the stress of the off-ramp excursion.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the ground roll after landing, which resulted in the aircraft veering off the runway and collapsing the right main landing gear.