Luscombe 8A accident near Renton, Washington, September 14, 1985
On September 14, 1985 at about 7:48 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N2073K, was destroyed in an accident near Renton, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- September 14, 1985 · about 7:48 pm local time
- Place
- Renton, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N2073K · no longer on the register · serial 4800
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INEXPERIENCED, LOW TIME STUDENT PILOT REPORTED A GRADUAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE OPERATING HIS LUSCOBE 8A AIRCRAFT ON A PERSONAL, LOCAL FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A STROMBERG CARBURETOR WHOSE MIXTURE WAS PERMANENTLY WIRED FULL OPEN AND POWER WAS CONTROLLED SOLELY THROUGH THE THROTTLE. TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT NEAR THE SITE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 64 DEGREES AND 52 DEGREES RESPECTIVELY AND CONDITIONS FOR CARBURETOR ICING WERE HIGH. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT VESTABLISED IN A RELATIVELY FAST AND NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE FORCED LANDING.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 46 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 23 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WA35 Maple Valley WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:49 pm from BFI, 8 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N2073K 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.