On September 10, 2006, a Luscombe 8E (registration N2020B) was involved in an aviation accident near Dodgeville, WI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot encountering unsuitable terrain during the precautionary landing. A factor was the ditch the pilot encountered. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A tailwheel airplane sustained substantial damage during a precautionary landing when its landing gear dropped into an unnoticed low shoulder, causing the left gear to collapse and the airplane to nose over. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions.
Incident Overview
A tailwheel airplane experienced substantial damage during a precautionary landing. According to the pilot, the off-airport landing was initially successful. After touching down, the pilot taxied to clear the road for auto traffic, which was not present at the time. The pilot then attempted to transition from the road to an adjacent alfalfa field. The transition area appeared smooth, but the landing gear unexpectedly dropped into an unnoticed low shoulder. The pilot attempted to pull back, but the left main landing gear collapsed, causing the airplane to nose over.
Aircraft and Damage
The airplane, a tailwheel-equipped model, sustained substantial damage as a result of the incident. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the flight.