On October 25, 1997, a Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8B (registration N5PL) was involved in an aviation accident near Bluefield, WV. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane veered right after touchdown, lifting left wing and gear, then drifted off runway into a ditch, collapsing the right landing gear and coming to rest inverted.
Accident Summary
During a landing approach to runway 23, the pilot entered a right base leg with winds from the south/southeast. The pilot reported that the approach was normal, but he added power to recover from a downdraft approximately 1/4 mile from the threshold. The airplane touched down in a three-point attitude at normal speed. Immediately after touchdown, the airplane veered to the right, causing the left wing and landing gear to lift off the ground. The pilot applied left aileron and rudder inputs, but the airplane continued drifting off the right side of the runway onto the grass.
Investigation
The right landing gear subsequently dropped into a drainage ditch, causing the gear to collapse. The airplane then rotated over its nose and came to rest inverted. Investigators verified flight control continuity, and the pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.