Luscombe 8A accident near Yamhill, Oregon, July 27, 1985
On July 27, 1985 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N1035K, was destroyed in an accident near Yamhill, Oregon (Flying M Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- July 27, 1985 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Yamhill, Oregon · Flying M Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N1035K · registry record · serial 3762
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENG CEASED OPERATING AT APRX 40 FT AGL DURING INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB. INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THE ACFT HAD BEEN FUELED WITH A MIXTURE OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL AND 80/87 AVGAS. THE ACFT HAD SAT ON THE GROUND FOR OVER 4 HRS WITH A SURFACE TEM OF 95 DEGS F. A GASKET IN THE FLOAT VALVE CHAMBER OF THE CARBURETOR HAD SHRUNK AND INTERFERED WITH THE FLOAT OPERATION. THE CARBURETOR FLOAT WAS FOUND STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION.
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: 489 hours in all; 471 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 449 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 1S4 Scappoose OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.