# NTSB FTW80FRG05: Luscombe 8A, N1209K, Fredericksburg, TX, October 28, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: October 28, 1979
- Place: Fredericksburg, TX · FREDERICKSBURG, TX
- Location: 30.2657° N, 98.8757° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fredericksburg, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2657&lon=-98.8757&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133124
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FRG05
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FRG05

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3331  79/10/28   FREDERICKSBURG,TX   LUSCOMBE 8A         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             NO CERTIFICATE, AGE 32,
        TIME - 1534                    N1209K              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  228 TOTAL HOURS, 200 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FREDERICKSBURG,TX           LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: VERTICAL STABILIZER,ATTACHMENTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNQUALIFIED PERSON OPERATED AIRCRAFT
        REMARKS- VERTICAL STAB & RUDDER SEPARATED IN FLT.NO RECORD OF STU PLT ENDORSED FOR SOLO IN TYPE ACFT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1209K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1209K-2023-10-29), registration cancelled 2023-10-29, S/N 3936, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8A
- Registry model: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/silvaire-luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190120) (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: Destroyed

## 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 19791028037859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791028037859A), Oct 28, 1979: Luscom 8A, Fredericksburg, TX, Destroyed. Airplane lost rudder & vertical stabilizer in level flight. Aircraft went into a flat spin to the ground.

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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