Luscombe 8A accident near Millbrook, New York, November 4, 2001
On November 4, 2001 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N1147B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Millbrook, New York (Sky Acres 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
pilot's inadvertent activation of the right brake during landing roll-out , which caused the airplane to nose over. A factor was the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 4, 2001 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Millbrook, New York · Sky Acres Airport · 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
- N1147B · no longer on the register · serial 5774
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on landing roll-out to runway 17, the tail-wheeled airplane encountered a gust of wind, which moved the tail to the left. The pilot compensated for the situation by applying full left rudder followed by "hard" right rudder. However, he accidentally activated the right brake instead of the right rudder pedal, and the airplane slowly nosed over. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies, and reported that the winds were from 270 degrees at 5 knots, gusting to 10 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: 247 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 141 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 19, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 445.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 24, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-75-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DXR Danbury CT at 5:20 pm
- Destination: 44N Millbrook NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,828 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from POU, 8 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.