Accident Details
On January 2, 2013, at approximately 1125 eastern standard time, a Luscombe 8F, registration N707HL, departed off the left side of the runway during landing at Mishawaka Pilots Club Airport (3C1), Elkhart, Indiana. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight, which had originated from 3C1 at 1050.
Pilot's Account
The pilot reported that during his third landing on runway 21 (2,243 feet by 40 feet, asphalt), the airplane touched down with the left wing low, contacting the runway surface with only the left main landing gear. The airplane then bounced "awkwardly" to the right because the pilot had not moved the control stick forward enough to keep the main landing gear on the runway. In attempting to correct, the pilot over-corrected by lowering the airplane nose and trying to get both main landing gear wheels on the ground. This resulted in excessive forward right control stick input combined with left rudder, causing the airplane to depart toward the left and off the runway surface.
Runway and Terrain
The pilot stated that the runway had been plowed to approximately 10 feet beyond the edge of the runway. After departing the runway, the airplane impacted snow and nosed over.
Mechanical Status
The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane.