# NTSB LAX81DVG38: Luscombe 8A, N37081, Paskenta, CA, May 25, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 25, 1981
- Place: Paskenta, CA · PASKENTA, CA
- Location: 39.8833° N, 122.5458° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Paskenta, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8833&lon=-122.5458&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 15, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126097
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DVG38
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DVG38

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1123  81/5/25    PASKENTA,CA         LUSCOMBE 8A         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 58, 1404
        TIME - 1415                    N37081              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 244 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MEADOW AREA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WILLETS,CA                  PASKENTA,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SUDDEN WINDSHIFT
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - OTHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      14000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     TAIL WIND 158-202 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           85                                                      180
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           5                                                       VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- LNDD IN 1500FT MEADOW W SLICK GRASS.D/A APRX 3200FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N37081](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N37081), registered now, S/N 1742, built 1941 (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: Meadow Area

## 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 19810525028989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810525028989A), May 25, 1981: Luscom 8A, Paskenta, CA, Substantial damage. Landed downwind in farm meadow unable to stop. Struck a fence and rocks before stopping.

## Other investigations on N37081 (1)

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.

- [NTSB WPR24FA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA195), Jun 12, 2024: Luscombe 8A (N37081), South Lake Tahoe, CA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue low-altitude flight toward rising mountainous terrain in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in collision with trees and terrain.

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.

---
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.