Luscombe 8A accident near Gates, Oregon, September 20, 1992
On September 20, 1992 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Luscombe 8A, registered N39039, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gates, Oregon (Davis 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 EXCESSIVE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE TAILWIND AND THE PILOTS VISUAL (MIS)PERCEPTION OF RUNWAY GRADIENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 1992 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Gates, Oregon · Davis · 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
- N39039 · no longer on the register · serial 1800
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT THE PILOT IN COMMAND PERCEIVED AN UPHILL GRADIENT AS WELL AS A 5-10 KNOT WIND OUT OF THE WEST. CHOOSING TO LAND TO THE EAST DUE TO THE GRADIENT HE TOUCHED DOWN WITHIN THE FIRST 25% OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE ROLLOUT HE 'APPLIED BRAKES, (BUT THE) AIRCRAFT WAS GOING TOO FAST AND FLIPPED OVER.'
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: 512 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 449 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,458 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1992; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3S2 Aurora OR at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 1,940 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.