Luscombe 8A accident near Snoqualmie, Washington, August 24, 1992
On August 24, 1992 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N71183, was destroyed in an accident near Snoqualmie, Washington (Bandera State Airport). 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 PILOT'S NOT MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT BECAUSE OF INCAPACITATION RESULTING FROM BOTH HYPOGLYCEMIA/DIET AND LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 1992 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Snoqualmie, Washington · Bandera State Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Luscombe 8A · all 8As on the register
- Registration
- N71183 · no longer on the register · serial 2610
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED THE AIRSTRIP TO THE WEST INTENDING TO FLY ONLY 3 TO 5 MINUTES. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING TAKEOFF HE BLACKED OUT AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A RIGHT SPIRAL UNTIL IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE PILOT, WHO WAS TAKING A BLOOD GLUCOSE LOWERING MEDICATION (GLUCOTROL) FOR A MILD DIABETIC CONDITION, HAD JUST EATEN A LARGE BREAKFAST.
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
- Flight time: 74 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WA04 at 7:30 pm
- Destination: WA04
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,342 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:49 pm from SMP, 10 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.
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.