Luscombe 8A accident near Orofino, Idaho, June 23, 1985
On June 23, 1985 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N25231, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orofino, Idaho (Orofino Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- June 23, 1985 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Orofino, Idaho · Orofino Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N25231 · registry record · serial 1136
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING STRONG GUSTING WINDS THE PRIVATE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO GIVE DUAL INSTRUCTION. DURING SHORT FINAL FOR RWY 27 AND THE WIND FROM 270 AT 8 TO 12 KNOTS GUSTING TO 18 KNOTS AN APPROACH STALL WAS ENTERED INTO A ABOUT 50 FEET AGL. ALTHOUGH AN ATTEMPTED RECOVERY WAS MADE, THE ACFT STRUCK THE RWY AND THEN CAME TO REST AFTER IT STRUCK AN FBO'S BUILDING.
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: 912 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 882 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,706 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S68 Orofino ID at 3:57 pm
- Destination: S68 Orofino ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,520 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:45 am
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.