Probable cause
The pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot was landing the airplane when it touched down on the left main landing gear and bounced. The pilot attempted to recover from the bounce by reducing pitch so that the main landing gear wheels would touch down onto the runway surface, but he inadvertently applied too much pitch control input and also applied left rudder control input. The airplane then veered left off the runway and nosed-over when it impacted an area of plowed snow. The pilot reported no malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN13LA127 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jan 2, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Elkhart, Indiana
- Nearest airport
- Mishawaka Pilots Club Airport (3C1)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Luscombe 8
- N-number
- N707HL
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1948
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.