Luscombe 8A accident near Ringgold, Georgia, July 26, 1986
On July 26, 1986 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N71713, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ringgold, Georgia (Chattanooga airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- July 26, 1986 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Ringgold, Georgia · Chattanooga · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N71713 · no longer on the register · serial 3140
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN BECAUSE HE REALIZED HE WAS GETTING TOO CLOSE TO AN AIRPORT WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. A HIGHWAY PATROLMAN SAID THE PILOT TOLD HIM HE BECAME DISORIENTED DURING THE TURN, CUT THE POWER TO LAND, AND DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. DURING THE TURN IN HAZY VISIBILITY THE PILOT BECAME SPATIALLY DISORIENTED, ALLOWED THE WING ON THE INSIDE OF THE TURN TO STALL, AND FAILED TO RECOVER FROM THE INDUCED SPIRAL.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 160 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8A4 Marietta GA at 1:50 pm
- Destination: SLO Salem IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:49 pm from CHA, 4 miles away
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.