Luscombe 8A accident near Lexington, North Carolina, March 6, 2005
On March 6, 2005 at about 9:14 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N45524, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lexington, North Carolina (Morrison Field (Private)). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive braking during landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over. A factor was the tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 2005 · about 9:14 pm local time
- Place
- Lexington, North Carolina · Morrison Field (Private) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N45524 · no longer on the register · serial 2051
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he made an approach to runway 5, but the airplane was high on the final approach, and the windsock showed a tailwind, so he initiated a go-around. The pilot stated that when he returned for a second approach to runway 5, the windsock was limp. He stated the approach was uneventful, and the airplane touched down approximately 200 feet down the runway. During landing roll, the airplane neared the end of the runway, the pilot applied the brakes, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. A review of recorded surface weather observations from Davidson County Airport, Lexington, North Carolina, located 5.7 nautical miles east of the accident site, revealed at 1559 winds were 250 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 14 knots, and at 1659 winds were 230 degrees at 8 knots. Morrison Field is a grass strip approximately 1,200 feet long and 200 feet wide; runway 5 has an upslope and is utilized for landings.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 18, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,785 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 2004; 41 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A&C 65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K27A Elberton GA at 7:15 pm
- Destination: 48NC Lexington NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 1,200 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:59 pm from KEXX, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.