NTSB GAA18CA244 — 2018-04-27 · Eunice, Louisiana, United States

Current FAA registration · N71261

Make / Model: LUSCOMBE 8A
Year of manufacture: 1946 · 72 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES (65 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19550930
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A986BF

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N71261 Luscombe 8 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree while on approach to land.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during final, the airplane struck a tree. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and front windshield. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, during approach to land, the airplane struck a tree. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and front windshield. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained - C
C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot - C
C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Effect on operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA244.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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