NTSB Factual Report

On August 30, 2003, at 0746 central daylight time, a Luscombe 8A, N1954B, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over while landing on runway 33 (3,300 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) at the Maquoketa Municipal Airport (OQW), Maquoketa, Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his passenger reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Erie Air Park (3H5), Erie, Illinois, at 0700.

According to the pilot's written statement, while on final approach to the runway the airplane had a "considerable crab angle" in order to maintain the extended runway centerline. The pilot stated the airplane "touched down smoothly on the [main landing gear]" and he held some forward control stick to keep the main landing gear on the runway. The pilot reported that during the landing rollout the airplane began to drift to the left and he "applied right brake" to correct the drift. The pilot stated that the airplane then "swerved to the right" and he "applied left brake without releasing the [right brake]." The airplane immediately nosed over on the runway centerline.

The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the accident flight.

The automated surface observing system (ASOS) at the Dubuque Regional Airport, located approximately 21 nautical miles north of OQW, recorded the following information at 0748:

Wind 040 degrees true at 8 knots; 10 statute mile visibility; broken clouds at 2,600 and 5,000 feet above ground level (agl); temperature 17 degrees Celsius; dew point of 15 degrees Celsius; altimeter 30.28 inches-of-mercury.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's excessive use of the brake system, which resulted in directional control not being maintained during the landing. A factor to the accident was the crosswind.