Luscombe 8A accident near Delano, California, June 12, 1982
On June 12, 1982 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N2013B, was destroyed in an accident near Delano, California (Delano airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- June 12, 1982 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Delano, California · Delano · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N2013B · registry record · serial 6440
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND HIS DAUGHTER WERE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. DURING A FORCED LANDING APPROACH TO A HIGHWAY, THE PILOT NOTICED SOME POWERLINES WHICH HE WENT UNDER. HE AVOIDED THE POWERLINES, BUT HIT A TRUCK. THE CRASH SITE WAS LOCATED WITHIN 5 MILES OF THE DESTINATION. THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND HAD NO RECOLLECTION ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. HIS DAUGHTER RELATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT RAN OUT OF FUEL. DURING AN INVESTIGATION, FUEL WAS FOUND IN BOTH TANKS. THE RIGHT TANK HAD THE LOWEST LEVEL OF FUEL WITH 3 GALLONS REMAINING. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVES WERE FOUND TO BE VERY STIFF AND COULD NOT BE SWITCHED TO THE LEFT TANK. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN REBUILT FROM 3 OTHER PLANES AND DID NOT HAVE THE LUSCOMBE AUTHORIZED FUEL SYSTEM INSTALLED. THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY DURING AN OPERATIONAL CHECK.
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: 2,500 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 2,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,160 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Porterville CA at 7:58 am
- Destination: Delano CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.