Luscombe 8B accident near Galion, Ohio, May 29, 2014
On May 29, 2014 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1941 Luscombe 8B, registered N39092, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Galion, Ohio (Galion Municipal airport). 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 misapplication of brakes after landing, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2014 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Galion, Ohio · Galion Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8B B, built 1941 · all 8Bs on the register
- Registration
- N39092 · registry record · serial 1853
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot conducted a local flight and after about 10 minutes returned to the airport for a normal landing. The pilot reported that he did a 3-point landing, in the tailwheel equipped airplane. He added that at about 20 mph or less the airplane swerved slightly left; he corrected the swerve with the application of right rudder and brake. The pilot then reported that he added left brake to stop before turning onto a taxiway. The airplane's tail came up and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and right wing strut.
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
What happened, in order
- Abrupt maneuver during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,069 hours in all; 379 in this make and model; 859 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 12, 2012
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,778.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 19, 2013
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KGQQ Galion OH
- Destination: KGQQ Galion OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 3,505 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 11,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.