Luscombe 8A accident near Oakdale, California, August 1, 1987
On August 1, 1987 at about 7:15 am local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N2098B, was destroyed in an accident near Oakdale, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- August 1, 1987 · about 7:15 am local time
- Place
- Oakdale, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N2098B · no longer on the register · serial 6525
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT & HIS PLT-RATED WIFE (FLYING IN THEIR LUSCOMBE) & ANOTHER COUPLE (IN A RENTED MOONEY) HAD DINNER & DRANK WINE. BY ABOUT 0015 THE COUPLES HAD TAKEN OFF IN THEIR RESPECTIVE ACFT FOR A RETURN FLT HOME AND THEY HAD EACH OTHER IN SIGHT. THE COUPLE IN THE MOONEY STATED THAT WHILE CRUISING AT 6,500 FEET MSL (& ON A FEDERAL AIRWAY) THE PLT IN THE LUSCOMBE TRANSMITTED 'I'LL SHOW YOU SOMETHING. I'M GOING TO DO A VERTICAL 360. WATCH THIS.' THE MOONEY PLT OBSERVED THE LUSCOMBE DESCEND SLIGHTLY & THEN COMMENCE A CLIMB. THEREAFTER, CONTACT WAS LOST. THE LUSCOMBE WRECKAGE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND IN NUMEROUS PIECES DISTRIBUTED OVER 3/4-MI. EXAM OF THE ACFT STRUCTURE INCLUDING WING SPARS REVEALED SEVERE CORROSION. NO EVIDENCE OF THE ACFT HAVING A CURRENT ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS FOUND. TOXICOLOGICAL TESTS REVEALED ETHANOL LEVELS OF .02 PERCENT AND .08 PERCENT FOR THE PLT AND HIS WIFE RESPECTIVELY.
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: 2,100 hours in all; 2,100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 022 Columbia CA at 7:01 am
- Destination: HWD Hayward CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.