Luscombe 8 N2689K accident near Heber, Utah

Probable cause

The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during an aborted landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll in a gusting crosswind, the airplane veered left. He added right rudder, which slowed the veer. However, he saw that the airplane was going to depart the runway, so he added full power and right rudder to abort the landing. The airplane became airborne but "stopped the climb, and slid tail first onto the ground." The right main landing gear collapsed, and the propeller and the right wing struck the ground.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 10 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 010° at 10 knots and that, about 10 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 340° at 14 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 04.

It is likely that, during the aborted landing, the pilot aerodynamically stalled the airplane.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA19CA301 for the full record.