Luscombe 8A accident near Battle Mountain, Nevada, May 13, 1989
On May 13, 1989 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N2943K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Battle Mountain, Nevada (Lander 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
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITION BY THE PILOT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE WIND GUSTS ENCOUNTERED DURING LANDING FLARE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1989 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Battle Mountain, Nevada · Lander County · 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
- N2943K · registry record · serial 5670
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE FLARE, A GUST OF WIND PICKED THE AIRCRAFT UP AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND GROUNDLOOPED. THE AIRCRAFT LEFT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A DITCH. THE PILOT HAD JUST PURCHASED THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS FERRYING IT TO CALIFORNIA.
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: 231 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 231 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,319 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1989; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ENV Wendover UT at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 7,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:30 pm from BAM
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.