# NTSB FTW79FPD05: Luscombe 8A, N45497, Clifton, TX, December 29, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 29, 1978
- Place: Clifton, TX · CLIFTON, TX
- Location: 31.7826° N, 97.5843° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Clifton, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7826&lon=-97.5843&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139158
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79FPD05
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FPD05

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3525  78/12/29   CLIFTON,TX          LUSCOMBE 8A         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 46, 597
        TIME - 1703                    N45497              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 410 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CLIFTON MUNICIPAL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ABILINE,TX                  WACO,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       40
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          290                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N45497](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45497-2012-07-19), registration cancelled 2012-07-19, S/N 2024, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8A
- Registry model: [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Clifton Municipal

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19781229038509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781229038509A), Dec 29, 1978: Luscom 8E, Clifton, TX, Substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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