# NTSB IAD73AI017: Luscombe 8A, N778W, Grafton, WV, June 1, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 1, 1973
- Place: Grafton, WV · GRAFTON, WV
- Location: 39.3406° N, 80.0161° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grafton, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3406&lon=-80.0161&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 5, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 190666
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD73AI017
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD73AI017

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1097   73/6/1  NR.GRAFTON,W VA       LUSCOMBE 8A         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 28, 57 TOTAL
        TIME - 1845                    N778W               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 23 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KNOTTESVILLE,W VA           LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
           STALL                                                    IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        REMARKS- OBS FLYING LOW OVER HOME. ENG SPUTTERED MOMENTARILY. CRASHED IN DRIVEWAY. PRIMER FOUND UNLOCKED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N778W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N778W-1973-07-20), registration cancelled 1973-07-20, S/N 3205 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8A
- Registry model: [Luscombe 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190104) (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 19730601014119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730601014119A), Jun 1, 1973: Luscom 8E, Grafton, WV, Destroyed. OBS flying low over home. Eng sputtered momentarily. Crashed in driveway. Primer found unlocked.

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

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.