On April 18, 1990, a Luscombe 8A (registration N71231) operated by Wilson Rider was involved in an aviation accident near Frederick, MD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll due to a wind gust and the use of newly installed brakes. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot encountered a wind gust during the landing roll, causing the aircraft to veer left. Despite applying brakes to regain control, the plane nosed over on the runway.
What happened
The pilot reported encountering a significant wind gust while conducting the landing roll. During this phase of flight, the aircraft began to veer to the left into the wind. In an attempt to correct the deviation and regain directional control, the pilot applied the brakes. However, these efforts were unsuccessful.
As a result of the loss of control, the aircraft nosed over on the runway. The pilot later reported that the excessive use of brakes contributed to the accident. It was noted that the brakes had been newly installed prior to this flight. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction involved.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll due to a wind gust and the use of newly installed brakes.