Luscombe 8A accident near Winchester, Virginia, October 9, 2021
On October 9, 2021 at about 6:22 pm local time, a 1945 Luscombe 8A, registered N4581M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Winchester, Virginia (Winchester Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 during the landing roll which resulted in a nose-over event and substantial damage to the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 2021 · about 6:22 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Winchester, Virginia · Winchester Rgnl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A, built 1945 · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N4581M · registry record · serial 1936
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner stated the pilot in the right seat completed the landing but had applied “too much forward stick.” He assumed control of the airplane, and while performing remedial actions, he had applied too much brake pressure, which resulted in the airplane “slowly” nosing over and coming to rest inverted. The pilot/owner and his copilot were wearing 4-point harnesses and were unhurt, but the airplane was substantially damaged. When asked if there were any mechanical deficiencies that would have prevented normal operation of his airplane, the pilot/owner replied, “No, none. Not at all.”
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,500 hours in all; 800 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,125 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 21, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85 (piston); 375 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14/3, 5,498 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from KOKV
Weather report (METAR): METAR KOKV 091815Z AUTO 10004KT 10SM OVC042 18/15 A3012 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of Substantial Damage to Vertical Fin. (FAA)
Photo 2 – View of Fuselage Buckling aft of Cockpit (FAA)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 5, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 Memorandum for Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N4581M on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Luscombe 8 Silvaire 1,420 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Luscombe 1,472 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental C85 4,672 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Winchester Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Virginia 1,361 since 1982 · 228 in the last ten years
- Virginia 5,973 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA22LA012.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.