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Accidents · NTSB SEA87LA167 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Luscombe 8A accident near Juneau, Alaska, August 17, 1987

On August 17, 1987 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N2507K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Juneau, Alaska (Juneau Int'L 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
August 17, 1987 · about 11:30 pm local time
Place
Juneau, Alaska · Juneau Int'L · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
Registration
N2507K · registry record · serial 5234
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

DUE TO A LOW BATTERY CHARGE, THE PLT ELECTED TO HAND PROP THE ACFT TO START THE ENG. HE RPRTD THE ENG BECAME FLOODED, SO HE SHUT OFF THE MAGS & OPENED THE THROTTLE, TO CLEAR THE ENG WHILE HAND TURNING THE PROP. HE THEN TURNED ON THE MASTER SW & MAGS, BUT FAILED TO CLOSE THE THROTTLE. SUBSEQUENTLY, WHILE HAND PROPPING WITH NO ONE AT THE CTLS, THE ENG STARTED & THE ACFT JUMPED THE CHOCKS & STRUCK AN UNOCCUPIED PLANE.

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: commercial pilot
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 930 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 905 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: unk

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,356 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Destination: SIT Sitka AK
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0, 8,456 ft by 150 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.