Luscombe 8F accident near Floydada, Texas, November 29, 1996
On November 29, 1996 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Luscombe 8F, registered N1907K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Floydada, Texas (Floydada Municipal airport). It was a ferry 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 inadequate compensation for the crosswind during landing. Factors were the crosswind and the locked left main wheel brake.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 29, 1996 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Floydada, Texas · Floydada Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8F · all 8Fs on the register
- Registration
- N1907K · no longer on the register · serial 4634
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing roll on runway 17, with the wind 'out of the west at 20 to 30 knots and gusty,' the pilot was unable to prevent the airplane from beginning 'a steep turn towards the west.' The pilot applied left brake, but this did not slow the turn to the right. As the pilot increased pressure on the left brake, the brake 'locked,' the tail came up, and the airplane nosed over. The winds recorded at a location 32 nautical miles from the accident site, 4 minutes prior to the accident, were from 220 degrees at 19 knots.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 381 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 362 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,210 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 6, 1996; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Bovina TX at 5:00 pm
- Destination: Q41
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 19 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from LBB, 32 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.