Accident Overview
A Luscombe 8E, equipped with a Lycoming O-320 engine producing 150 horsepower, was involved in towing gliders. During a landing sequence following a glider release, the left main landing gear strut failed, leading to the separation of the wheel. The aircraft subsequently nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position.
Examination Findings
An examination of the failed landing gear strut revealed internal rusting and a preexisting crack at the point of failure. These conditions were identified during the post-incident inspection.
Operational Context
The aircraft was being utilized for glider towing operations at the time of the incident. No further details regarding the operator, location, or date were provided in the source material.