No fatalities

21 May 2009: LUSCOMBE 8E — CLARK DENNIS L — Ozona, TX

Ozona, TX, United States

On 21 May 2009, a LUSCOMBE 8E operated by CLARK DENNIS L was involved in an aviation accident near Ozona, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A private pilot attempted to land after departure in a tailwheel airplane; the aircraft bounced, veered off the runway, ground-looped, and flipped inverted, causing substantial damage.

Accident Details

A private pilot flying a tailwheel-equipped airplane experienced a loss of control during a landing attempt. The pilot had just departed from a 6,000-foot-long asphalt runway and attempted to return for landing. During the landing, the airplane bounced. The pilot then reduced engine power and attempted a three-point landing, but the airplane was not properly aligned with the runway. As a result, the airplane veered off the runway, ground-looped, and flipped inverted.

Damage

The accident caused substantial damage to the aircraft, specifically to the vertical stabilizer and left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or its engine prior to the accident.

Pilot Actions

The pilot reported no mechanical issues, indicating that the accident resulted from the handling of the aircraft during the landing attempt.

Contributing factors

PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained