Luscombe 8-A and Unknown GLIDER TRYKE accident near Columbiana, Alabama, May 18, 1985
On May 18, 1985 at about 7:55 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Luscombe 8-A (N28428) and Unknown GLIDER TRYKE (UNREG), were involved in the same accident near Columbiana, Alabama (Flying X Ranch airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- May 18, 1985 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Columbiana, Alabama · Flying X Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Luscombe 8-A · all 8-As on the register
- Registration
- N28428 · registry record · serial 1295
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Unknown GLIDER TRYKE GLIDER TRY
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial NONE
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative for the Luscombe 8-A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRSTRIP IS USED PRIMARILY AS A GLIDERPORT AND AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, TRAFFIC WAS BEING CONTROLLED BY A PERSON ON THE GROUND USING HANDSIGNALS. N28428 PROCEEDED ON TO THE RWY TO TAKEOFF AS THE ULTRALIGHT WAS ON FINAL APCH. BOTH PLTS OBSERVED THE PERSON CONTROLLING MTRAFFIC TO BE WAVING HIS ARMS, HOWEVER, BOTH PLTS ASSUMED HE WAS CLEARING EACH TO PROCEED. N28428 WAS ON IT'S TAKEOFF ROLL AS THE ULTRALIGHT DESCENDED ONTO IT'S WING. THE TAKEOFF ROLL WAS THEN ABORTED. INTENT OF THE CONTROLLER'S HANDSIGNALS WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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 Unknown GLIDER TRYKE final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRSTRIP IS USED PRIMARILY AS A GLIDERPORT AND AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, TRAFFIC WAS BEING CONTROLLED BY A PERSON ON THE GROUND USING HANDSIGNALS. N28428 PROCEEDED ON TO THE RWY TO TAKEOFF AS THE ULTRALIGHT WAS ON FINAL APCH. BOTH PLTS OBSERVED THE PERSON CONTROLLING TRAFFIC TO BE WAVING HIS ARMS, HOWEVER, BOTH PLTS ASSUMED HE WAS CLEARING EACH TO PROCEED. N28428 WAS ON IT'S TAKEOFF ROLL AS THE ULTRALIGHT DESCENDED ONTO IT'S WING. THE TAKEOFF ROLL WAS THEN ABORTED. INTENT OF THE CONTROLLERS HANDSIGNALS WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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 8-A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 654 hours in all; 143 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 603 as pilot in command; 51 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,654 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 21, 1984; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 21A Shelby County AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Unknown GLIDER TRYKE from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Flight time: 6 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kawasaki 11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,400 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.
Other NTSB records under N28428 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.