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Casualties unknown

Airplane Noses Over After Contacting Snow Bank During Landing (N2953K)

North Platte, NE, US

On January 16, 2001, a Luscombe 8E (registration N2953K) was involved in an aviation accident near North Platte, NE. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The inadvertent ground loop. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot selected the wrong runway on which to land, the quartering tailwind, the icy runway, and the snow bank which the airplane contacted. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported that during landing on runway 12, the airplane contacted black ice, ground looped, veered left, struck a snow bank, and nosed over. Winds at the time differed from a later observation.

Accident Overview

A pilot reported that after landing an airplane on runway 12, the aircraft contacted a snow bank and nosed over. The pilot had heard another airplane depart from the same runway prior to landing.

Pilot Account

The pilot stated that during the landing roll, the airplane encountered "black-ice" on the runway, causing a ground loop. The aircraft then traveled to the left side of the runway, where it struck a snow bank and subsequently nosed over.

Weather Conditions

The pilot reported that the local winds at the time of the accident were from 300 degrees at 12 knots. A weather observation from the North Platte Regional Airport, taken 16 minutes after the accident, indicated winds from 010 degrees at 8 knots.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 16 Jan 2001 Luscombe 8E accident near North Platte, NE?

A pilot reported that during landing on runway 12, the airplane contacted black ice, ground looped, veered left, struck a snow bank, and nosed over. Winds at the time differed from a later observation.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 16 Jan 2001 involved a Luscombe 8E, registration N2953K, at North Platte, NE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The inadvertent ground loop. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot selected the wrong runway on which to land, the quartering tailwind, the icy runway, and the snow bank which the airplane contacted.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20010117X00315. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.