Luscombe 8A accident near Byers, Colorado, September 24, 1994
On September 24, 1994 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N71245, was substantially damaged in an accident near Byers, Colorado (Sky Haven (Private) airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE BY THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN A PROPER DESCENT RATE DURING APPROACH TO LANDING. A FACTOR WAS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN MAKE, MODEL, AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 1994 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Byers, Colorado · Sky Haven (Private) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N71245 · registry record · serial 2672
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AN APPROACH TO A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRCRAFT ESTABLISHED A HIGH SINK RATE ON FINAL AND LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN A DITCH. THE PILOT HAD LESS THAN ONE HOUR OF EXPERIENCE IN MAKE, MODEL, AND TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.
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: 750 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CO
- Destination: CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,500 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from DEN, 40 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.