Luscombe 8A accident near Columbia, California, September 17, 1992
On September 17, 1992 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N39087, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbia, California (Columbia 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 FAILURE OF THE STUDENT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LOW SPEED PORTION OF THE LANDING ROLL. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF BRAKE PEDALS AT THE INSTRUCTOR'S SEAT POSITION ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE COCKPIT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1992 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, California · Columbia · map
- 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
- N39087 · registry record · serial 1848
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR SAID THE STUDENT MADE THREE PRIOR LANDINGS IN THE AIRCRAFT. ON THE FOURTH LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT DECELERATED TO ABOUT 15 MILES PER HOUR WHEN IT BEGAN VEERING OFF THE RUNWAY. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID THE RIGHT SEAT POSITION DOES NOT HAVE BRAKES AND HE COULD NOT CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT WITH RUDDER ALONE DUE TO THE REDUCED SPEED. THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED, COLLAPSING THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR AND DAMAGING THE WING.
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 multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,946 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days; 120 in the last 30 days; 1,813 as pilot in command; 316 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,250 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 5, 1992; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,800 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 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.
Other NTSB records under N39087 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.