# NTSB IAD78FA083: Luscombe 8A, N71956, Fairfield, NC, July 14, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 14, 1978
- Place: Fairfield, NC · FAIRFIELD, NC
- Location: 35.5504° N, 76.2265° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fairfield, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5504&lon=-76.2265&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140617
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA083
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA083

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2020  78/7/14    FAIRFIELD,NC        LUSCOMBE 8A         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 59, 139
        TIME - 1930                    N71956              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 123 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WILLIAMSTON,NC              FAIRFIELD,NC
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: BUZZING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
        REMARKS- ALERTING PERSONS ON GND TO PICK HIM UP AT ARPT.ON THIRD PASS,STRUCK TREE.BLOOD ALC LVL 60MG%.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N71956](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71956-1986-08-28), registration cancelled 1986-08-28, S/N 3383 (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: Substantial damage

## 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 19780714024529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780714024529A), Jul 14, 1978: Luscom 8E, Fairfield, NC, Substantial damage. Alerting persons on gnd to pick him up at arpt. On third pass,struree. Blood alc lvl 60MG .

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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