Luscombe 8C accident near Casa Grande, Arizona, October 20, 1989
On October 20, 1989 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Luscombe 8C, registered N23060, was substantially damaged in an accident near Casa Grande, Arizona (Casa Grande Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR ADVERSE WINDS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 1989 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Casa Grande, Arizona · Casa Grande Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8C · all 8Cs on the register
- Registration
- N23060 · no longer on the register · serial 984
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND HIS 65 HP ACFT AT THE BEGINNING OF RWY 05, WHICH WAS 5200 FT LONG. AT THE TIME, THE GUSTY SURFACE WIND WAS ESTIMATED TO BE FROM 140 DEGREES AT 25 TO 35 KNOTS. ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH, IN THE NEAR 90 DEGREE RIGHT X-WIND CONDITION, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF HIS ACFT & IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN 250 FT SHORT OF THE THRESHOLD.
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: 2,450 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- 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: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FMN Farmington NM at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- 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.