Luscombe 8E accident near Casper, Wyoming, March 31, 1985
On March 31, 1985 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Luscombe 8E, registered N2482K, was destroyed in an accident near Casper, Wyoming (Harford 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
- March 31, 1985 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Casper, Wyoming · Harford · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8E · all 8Es on the register
- Registration
- N2482K · no longer on the register · serial 5209
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE REACHING THE DESTINATION, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE & THE PASSENGER BECAME ILL. THE PLT TRIED TO LAND ON THE EAST-WEST RWY, BUT THE X-WIND WAS TOO STRONG, SO HE THEN ENTERED A PATTERN FOR RWY 3. AFTER TURNING INTO THE WIND FOR A LANDING, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A GUST-LIKE CONDITION, THEN STALLED & IMPACTED THE GROUND. THERE WAS A FAST MOVING SNOW SQUALL IN THE VICINITY WITH WIND GUSTS TO 58 KTS. ALSO, THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT HAD ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR.
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: 268 hours in all; 268 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 148 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 14, 1984; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: THP Themopolis WY at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 3, 1,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 30 knots, gusting 35
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.