Luscombe 8A accident near Napa, California, July 10, 1989
On July 10, 1989 at about 5:00 am local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N77969, was destroyed in an accident near Napa, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
SUICIDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 1989 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Napa, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N77969 · no longer on the register · serial 3696
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON THE EVENING OF 7/9/89 THE PILOT TELEPHONED FRIENDS. HE WAS REPORTED TO BE DESPONDENT, INDICATED THAT HE WAS GOING TO KILL HIMSELF, AND STATED THAT HE WAS GOING TO CRASH HIS AIRCRAFT IN THE CENTER OF LAKE BERRYESSA SO AS TO NOT HURT ANYONE. THE PILOT AND HIS AIRCRAFT WERE REPORTED MISSING ON 7/10/89. A SUICIDE LETTER WAS SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND IN HIS RESIDENCE. THE WRECKAGE AND PILOT WERE FOUND 10/8/91 IN 45 FT OF WATER NEAR THE CENTER OF THE LAKE.
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: 45 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,270 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 045 Vacaville CA at 4:00 am
- Destination: 045
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.