On July 4, 2004, a Luscombe 8F (registration N803B) was involved in an aviation accident near Andover, NJ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to maintain control of the descent rate due to windshear encountered on final approach. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane encountered significant windshear while on final approach to runway 21, causing the pilot to lose control of the descent rate and resulting in an impact with the runway surface.
What happened
The accident occurred while the aircraft was conducting a final approach for landing on runway 21. As the airplane crossed over the threshold, it encountered windshear conditions that severely affected its flight dynamics. The pilot attempted to manage the situation but was unable to control the rate of descent effectively. Consequently, the airplane impacted the runway surface.
Findings
Investigation of the meteorological data revealed that the reported wind at an airport located approximately 15 miles northeast of the accident site, around the time of the incident, was from 150 degrees at 7 knots. The wind direction varied between 120 degrees and 210 degrees during this period.
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain control of the descent rate due to windshear encountered on final approach.