Luscombe 8E accident near Poestenkill, New York, March 20, 1982
On March 20, 1982 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Luscombe 8E, registered N1774K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Poestenkill, New York (Rensselaer County 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
- March 20, 1982 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Poestenkill, New York · Rensselaer County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8E · all 8Es on the register
- Registration
- N1774K · no longer on the register · serial 4501
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING LANDING FLARE WHILE HOLDING FULL AFT ON THE CONTROL STICK THE RIGHT WING CAME UP AND THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED LEFT. FULL RIGHT RUDDER AND AILERON WERE APPLIED BUT THE MAIN GEAR STRUCK A SNOWBANK ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,317 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 87 in the last 90 days; 1,146 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,148 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: So. Albany NY at 1:20 pm
- Destination: Rensselaer NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 117°F (47°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.