Luscombe 8A accident near Lillian, Alabama, January 1, 1993
On January 1, 1993 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N72088, was destroyed in an accident near Lillian, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS TURNED FROM BASE LEG TO FINAL APPROACH, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND UNCONTROLLED DESCENT TO THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 1, 1993 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Lillian, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N72088 · no longer on the register · serial 3515
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AIRCRAFT WAS LISTED ON FAA REGISTRY AS DEREGISTERED BY PREVIOUS OWNER WHO SOLD AIRCRAFT AS SALVAGE. AIRCRAFT DID NOT HAVE CURRENT ANNUAL INSPECTION. PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) DID NOT HAVE CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. NO PILOT LOGBOOK WAS FOUND BY PILOT'S FAMILY, AND IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED IF PIC HAD CURRENT BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. PILOT-RATED PASSENGER STATED PILOT OVER FLEW PRIVATE STRIP AND ENTERED BASE LEG. AS THEY TURNED FROM BASE TO FINAL APPROACH THE PIC LET THE AIRCRAFT GET TOO SLOW AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. THEY THEN DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. PASSENGER REPORTED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRCRAFT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,150 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,826 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1990; 47 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: Pensacola FL at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 pm from PNS, 15 miles away
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.