How many Luscombe 8As are registered in the US?

880, in the FAA aircraft registry.

When was the Luscombe 8A built?

From about 1939 to 1953. Half of those registered today were built by 1946.

What engine does the Luscombe 8A have?

Most have the Continental A65 (86% of those registered); others have the Continental C85, Continental A75.

How many accidents has the Luscombe 8A had?

53 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 7 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of control on ground. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.

How many Airworthiness Directives does the Luscombe 8A have?

9 current ADs name the 8A airframe, 0 of them with a repeat action, and 5 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Ownership guide

Luscombe 8A Silvaire

880 registered in the US, built from about 1939 to 1953, 2 seats, most with the Continental A65. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.

The fleet

Registered in the US: 880
Built: 1939 to 1953
Half built by: 1946
Seats: 2
Engine type: Piston
Most common engine: Continental A65

Engines installed

Continental A65760 aircraft (86%)
Continental C8540 aircraft (5%) · 4 ADs, 0 with a repeat action
Continental A7522 aircraft (3%) · 1 ADs, 0 with a repeat action

From the FAA aircraft registry, rebuilt daily. Years are those recorded on each registration.

Airworthiness Directives

9 current ADs name the 8A airframe, 0 with a repeat action. Its engines carry 5 more.

No current airframe AD mentions a repeat action.

Every AD for the Luscombe 8A

Accident record

53 accidents since 2008, 7 fatal (8 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 0 aircraft destroyed.

What happened

Loss of control on ground18
Loss of control in flight4
Loss of engine power (total)4
Nose over/nose down3
Loss of engine power (partial)3
Aerodynamic stall/spin3

Phase of flight

Landing19
Takeoff10
Initial climb7
Enroute5
Approach5

The latest

Date	Where	What happened	Injuries	NTSB number
2026-07-14	Canton, TX	Unknown: Loss of control in flight	Fatal	WPR26FA257
2026-07-07	Novato, CA	Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)	None	WPR26LA251
2025-11-12	Fresno, CA	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	WPR26LA044
2025-07-05	Newaygo, MI	Enroute: Fuel exhaustion	None	CEN25LA239
2025-02-11	Hampton, NH	Approach: Loss of control in flight	None	ERA25LA115
2024-09-21	Elyria, OH	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	ERA24LA396

From the NTSB's aviation accident database, refreshed monthly; accidents only, homebuilts left out. Counts, not rates: nobody publishes how many hours each model flies, and a training fleet flies far more than a private one. Look up any case by its number in the NTSB's CAROL.

What it costs to run

Per hour flown

Hours flown a yearhr/yrFuel burngal/hrTypical cruise; your POH and how you fly decide it.Fuel price$/galEngine overhaul$A quote from an engine shop.Hours to overhaulhrThe engine maker's published time between overhauls.Maintenance reserve$/hrEverything else that wears: tires, brakes, avionics, the unexpected.

Per year, flown or not

Insurance$/yrHangar or tiedown$/yrAnnual inspection$/yrLoan payments$/yrEverything else$/yrSubscriptions, database updates, the property tax some states charge.

Fuel: $0/hr
Engine reserve: $0/hr
A year: $0
All in, per hour: $0/hr

Filled in for a Luscombe 8A with the Continental A65: the engine maker's published overhaul time. Everything else is yours to fill in: insurance, hangar and overhaul prices vary too much by pilot, airport and shop for a default to mean anything. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Before you buy one

Run its N-number through the AD check: every AD that names its airframe and engine, as a checklist to take to the logbooks.
For each repeat-action AD, find the last compliance in the logbooks and when the next one is due.
Compare the engine's time since overhaul with its maker's published overhaul time, and look for the reason behind any long gap in flying.
Check the registration, the airworthiness certificate and the date of the last annual inspection.
Work out the sales or use tax your state will charge with the aircraft tax calculator.

Questions

How many Luscombe 8As are registered in the US?: 880, in the FAA aircraft registry.
When was the Luscombe 8A built?: From about 1939 to 1953. Half of those registered today were built by 1946.
What engine does the Luscombe 8A have?: Most have the Continental A65 (86% of those registered); others have the Continental C85, Continental A75.
How many accidents has the Luscombe 8A had?: 53 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 7 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of control on ground. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.
How many Airworthiness Directives does the Luscombe 8A have?: 9 current ADs name the 8A airframe, 0 of them with a repeat action, and 5 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Figures from the FAA aircraft registry and the FAA's Airworthiness Directives, rebuilt daily. An AD listed for a model is one to read; whether it applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number, equipment and records.