Luscombe 8A accident near Riverside, California, February 1, 1987
On February 1, 1987 at about 6:43 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N1130B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Riverside, California (Flabob 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
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
- February 1, 1987 · about 6:43 pm local time
- Place
- Riverside, California · Flabob · 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
- N1130B · registry record · serial 5757
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A LUSCOMBE 8A GROUND LOOPED ON LANDING ROLL. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL AFTER HIS THIRD LANDING HE HEARD A 'POP' SOUND. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED RIGHT, COLLAPSING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND DAMAGING THE LEFT WING. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE STUDENT PILOT, WHO IS ALSO AN AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE LEFT RUDDER CABLE WAS BROKEN. THE CABLE WAS EXAMINED IN A METALLURGICAL LABORATORY. THE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT 42 OF THE 49 WIRES IN THE CABLE HAD FATIGUE CHARACTERISTICS AT THE WIRE BREAKS AND THE REMAINING 7 WERE ENTIRELY OVERSTRESS FRACTURES. THE WIRE BREAKS HAD OCCURRED WITHIN 0.5 INCHES OF EACH OTHER NEAR A PULLEY.
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: student
- Flight time: 189 hours in all; 134 in this make and model; 3 in the last 30 days; 115 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,703 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 1986; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C8512F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RIR Riverside CA at 6:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:49 pm from RAL, 3 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.