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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 1982 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Apex, North Carolina · Cox Field · 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.
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.