Luscombe 8A accident near Casa Grande, Arizona, October 18, 1983
On October 18, 1983 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N2041B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Casa Grande, Arizona (Casa Grande airport). It was an instructional 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
- October 18, 1983 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Casa Grande, Arizona · Casa Grande
- 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
- N2041B · registry record · serial 6468
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH BRAKES ONLY ON THE LEFT SIDE. DURING A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLT, THE STUDENT WAS LANDING THE ACFT FROM THE LEFT SEAT. ON THE 4TH LANDING, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A REPORTED RIGHT QUARTERING GUST OF WIND FROM THE REAR. THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT & CAME TO REST IN A DRAINAGE DITCH. THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) STATED THAT NOT HAVING BRAKES ON HIS SIDE OF THE ACFT CONTRIBUTED TO THE MISHAP.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,810 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 262 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 3,715 as pilot in command; 2,822 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,210 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 16, 1983; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,600 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.