Luscombe 8B accident near Pittsford, Michigan, April 13, 1986
On April 13, 1986 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Luscombe 8B, registered N28914, was destroyed in an accident near Pittsford, Michigan (Julian Rla airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- April 13, 1986 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Pittsford, Michigan · Julian Rla · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8B · all 8Bs on the register
- Registration
- N28914 · no longer on the register · serial 1656
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OVERSHOT FINAL APPROACH DUE TO A 10-15 KT TAILWIND ON BASE LEG. ACCORDING TO A PILOT FRIEND ON THE GROUND HE PUT THE ACFT INTO A 60 DEGREE BANK TO IN AN ATTEMPT TO REALIGN HIMSELF WITH THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE. DURING THIS STEEP TURN THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. THE LOW ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF THE STALL PRECLUDED RECOVERY BEFORE GROUND IMPACT.
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: 950 hours in all; 245 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 905 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,708 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1985; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-145B2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RLA Hudson MI at 8:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:30 pm from JXN, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.