Luscombe 8A accident near Alpena, Michigan, February 21, 1992
On February 21, 1992 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N1405K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alpena, Michigan (Alpena airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. RELATED FACTORS ARE HIS MISJUDGED APPROACH AND FAILURE TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 1992 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Alpena, Michigan · Alpena · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N1405K · no longer on the register · serial 413
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT/AIRPLANE OWNER REPORTED THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND ON FINAL APPROACH WHEN IT SUDDENLY DESCENDED INTO HARD PACKED SNOW SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE LANDING RUNWAY, 'RAPIDLY DECELERATED AND FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK.' THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 276 HOURS, ALL IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT.
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: student
- Flight time: 276 hours in all; 276 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 253 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,993 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 26, 1991; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 5,030 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from APN, 1 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.