Luscombe 8A accident near Wendover, Utah, June 21, 1982
On June 21, 1982 at about 2:45 am local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N77947, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wendover, Utah (Wendover Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- June 21, 1982 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Wendover, Utah · Wendover Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N77947 · no longer on the register · serial 3674
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, HE APPLIED MODERATE BRAKING TO AVOID A LONG TAXI DISTANCE BACK TO THE PARKING AREA. HE WAS WEARING UNFAMILIAR BOOTS WITH HIGHER THAN NORMAL HEELS, AND WHILE USING THE SMALL HEEL BRAKE PEDDLES, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO YAW TO THE LEFT. HE RELEASED THE BRAKES AND TRIED TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT WITH RUDDER AND THOTTLE. HOWEVER, THE LEFT YAW CONTINUED AND THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE PROPELLER AND RIGHT WING WERE DAMAGED.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 454 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 365 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,030 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 28 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: 42U Morgan UT at 7:25 pm
- Destination: FNT Flint MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 9,100 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 187°F (86°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 am from ENV
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.
Other NTSB records under N77947 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.