Luscombe 8A accident near Decatur, Texas, June 21, 1994
On June 21, 1994 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N71347, was substantially damaged in an accident near Decatur, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE MANEUVERING. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S MANEUVERING AT AN LOW ALTITUDE AND HIS LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN MAKE AND MODEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1994 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Decatur, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N71347 · registry record · serial 2774
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD LAST FLOWN THE LUSCOMBE TWO YEARS BEFORE. HE HAD AN ESTIMATED TOTAL TIME OF 10 HOURS IN MAKE AND MODEL. WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING TWO AIRPLANES MANUEVERING AND CIRCLING AT LOW ALTITUDE OVER TREES AND HIGHLINES. WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING THE GRAY AIRPLANE BANKING TO THE LEFT AND MANEUVERING FROM 200 FEET TO 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT. ONE WITNESESS OBSERVED THE LUSCOMBE IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE A ROLL CLOSE TO THE GROUND AND DID NOT SEE THE AIRPLANE COME BACK UP. ANOTHER WITNESS REPORTED THE AIRPLANE IN A LEFT TURNING MANEUVER ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND PRIOR TO IMPACT. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST 16 FEET FROM THE INITIAL GROUND SCARS.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,812 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1993; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,236 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4TX2 Keller TX at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from AFW, 27 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.