Luscombe 8A and Piper PA-22 mid-air collision near Apex, North Carolina, December 26, 1982
On December 26, 1982 at about 8:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Luscombe 8A (N76T) and Piper PA-22 (N73260), were involved in a mid-air collision near Apex, North Carolina (Cox Field). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 1982 · about 8:30 pm local time · cases in 1982
- Place
- Apex, North Carolina · Cox Field · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N76T · registry record · serial 3008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N73260 · no longer on the register · serial 22-5114
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Luscombe 8A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LUSCOMBE HAD DEPARTED THE E-W RWY IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION, HAD REVERSED COURSE & WAS ON A STRAIGHT-IN APCH TO RWY 27. THE PA-22 ENTERED THE ARPT TRAFFIC VIA A STANDARD LEFT DOWNWIND & BASE PATTERN. DURING FINAL THE PA-22 ENDED UP ABOVE & SLIGHTLY BEHIND THE LUSCOMBE. THE PA-22'S NOSEWHEEL DESCENDED INTO THE LUSCOMBE'S PROP ARC. THE LUSCOMBE WENT OUT OF CONTROL & CRASHED INTO THE TREES. THE PA-22 CONTINUED FOR A NORMAL LANDING. THE LUSCOMBE HAD NO RADIO & NO UNICOMFREQ WAS ASSIGNED FOR THE ARPT. THE LUSCOMBE WAS ABOUT 5 MOS PAST DUE FOR AN ANNUAL.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-22 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LUSCOMBE HAD DEPARTED THE E-W RWY IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION, HAD REVERSED COURSE & WAS ON A STRAIGHT-IN APCH TO RWY 27. THE PA-22 ENTERED THE ARPT TRAFFIC VIA A STANDARD LEFT DOWNWIND & BASE PATTERN. DURING FINAL THE PA-22 ENDED UP ABOVE & SLIGHTLY BEHIND THE LUSCOMBE. THE PA-22'S NOSEWHEEL DESCENDED INTO THE LUSCOMBE'S PROP ARC. THE LUSCOMBE WENT OUT OF CONTROL & CRASHED INTO THE TREES. THE PA-22 CONTINUED FOR A NORMAL LANDING. THE LUSCOMBE HAD NO RADIO & NO UNICOMFREQ WAS ASSIGNED FOR THE ARPT. THE LUSCOMBE WAS ABOUT 5 MOS PAST DUE FOR AN ANNUAL.
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 for the Luscombe 8A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,228 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NC81 Apex NC
- Destination: NC81 Apex NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:55 pm from RDU, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-22 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 635 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,127 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Augusta GA at 1:30 pm
- Destination: Apex NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N76T on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Luscombe 8 Silvaire 1,420 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Luscombe 1,472 aircraft on the register
- N73260: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer and Colt 2,943 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,840 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 137 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A 21 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Cox Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in North Carolina 1,762 since 1982 · 304 in the last ten years
- North Carolina 7,123 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL83FA071.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.