Luscombe 8A accident near Salida, Colorado, July 9, 1986
On July 9, 1986 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N1272K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salida, Colorado. 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
- July 9, 1986 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Salida, Colorado · 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
- N1272K · no longer on the register · serial 3999
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, UPON ENTERING THE MOUNTAIN PASS, THE ACFT HE WAS PILOTING ENCOUNTERED DOWNDRAFTS FROM WHICH HE WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER. THE PLT STATED HE BLED OFF AIRSPEED UNTIL CONTACT WITH THE TREES. A LOCAL FLT INSTRUCTOR WHO WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT WHILE FLYING OVERHEAD, STATED HE HAD GIVEN THE PLT OF THE MISHAP ACFT, VIA RADIO COMMUNICATIONS, ALT'S NEEDED TO CLEAR THE PASS & ALSO 'HIS LAST TURN AROUND POINT.'
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: 243 hours in all; 43 in the last 90 days; 243 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,009 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1985; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 00V Falcon CO at 3:15 pm
- Destination: GJT Grand Junction CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.