Luscombe 8A accident near Parkin, Arkansas, May 24, 1982
On May 24, 1982 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N71153, was destroyed in an accident near Parkin, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- May 24, 1982 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Parkin, Arkansas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N71153 · no longer on the register · serial 2580
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED PRESIDENTS ISLE, TN WITH ABOUT 1/4 TANK OF FUEL (3.5 GAL) AND PROCEEDED EN ROUTE WITH A PLANNED STOP AT WYNNE, AR FOR FUEL. PRIOR TO REACHING WYNNE, HEAVY RAIN WAS ENCOUNTERED AND A LANDING WAS MADE AT A PRIVATE AIRPORT NEAR PARKIN, AR. THE PILOT LET THE ENGINE RUN FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHILE WAITING FOR THE RAIN TO SUBSIDE, THEN FINALLY SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. ABOUT 1 HR LATER, THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM THE PRIVATE STRIP. ABOUT 1/8 MILE FROM THE STRIP, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND CRASHED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS ABOUT 1 PINT OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE FUEL TANK. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE OR LEAKS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE FUEL PICKUP POINT WAS LOCATED ON THE FORWARD 1/3 PORTION OF THE TANK. REPORTEDLY, THE FUEL LEVER IN THE TANK WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PICKUP POINT DURING A CLIMB WITH ONLY 1 PINT OF FUEL REMAINING.
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: 300 hours in all; 161 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 161 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 925 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Presidents Isle TN
- Destination: Wynne AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 2,500 ft by 11 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 15 knots
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.