How many Luscombe 8Es are registered in the US?

316, in the FAA aircraft registry.

When was the Luscombe 8E built?

From about 1940 to 1950. Half of those registered today were built by 1947.

What engine does the Luscombe 8E have?

Most have the Continental C85 (85% of those registered); others have the Continental O-200, Lycoming O-320, Lycoming O-235.

How many accidents has the Luscombe 8E had?

19 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 1 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 8E have?

10 current ADs name the 8E airframe, 0 of them with a repeat action, and 46 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Ownership guide

Luscombe 8E Silvaire

316 registered in the US, built from about 1940 to 1950, 2 seats, most with the Continental C85. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.

The fleet

Registered in the US: 316
Built: 1940 to 1950
Half built by: 1947
Seats: 2
Engine type: Piston
Most common engine: Continental C85

Engines installed

Continental C85269 aircraft (85%) · 4 ADs, 0 with a repeat action
Continental O-2008 aircraft (3%) · 8 ADs, 0 with a repeat action
Lycoming O-3207 aircraft (2%) · 24 ADs, 3 with a repeat action
Lycoming O-2357 aircraft (2%) · 10 ADs, 1 with a repeat action

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

Airworthiness Directives

10 current ADs name the 8E airframe, 0 with a repeat action. Its engines carry 46 more.

No current airframe AD mentions a repeat action.

Every AD for the Luscombe 8E

Accident record

19 accidents since 2008, 1 fatal (1 person killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 0 aircraft destroyed.

What happened

Loss of control on ground9
Landing gear collapse2
Loss of control in flight2
Nose over/nose down2
Loss of engine power (partial)2
Windshear or thunderstorm1

Phase of flight

Landing11
Takeoff5
Initial climb2
Approach1

The latest

Date	Where	What happened	Injuries	NTSB number
2026-04-19	Meeker, CO	Takeoff: Windshear or thunderstorm	None	CEN26LA169
2025-01-27	Brush, CO	Landing: Landing gear collapse	Minor	CEN25LA089
2024-02-23	Truth or consequences, NM	Landing: Loss of control on ground	Minor	WPR24LA102
2023-05-19	Cortez, CO	Landing: Landing gear collapse	None	CEN23LA208
2023-02-19	Houston, TX	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	CEN23LA118
2022-11-09	Bridgeport, TX	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	CEN23LA033

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 8E with the Continental C85: 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 8Es are registered in the US?: 316, in the FAA aircraft registry.
When was the Luscombe 8E built?: From about 1940 to 1950. Half of those registered today were built by 1947.
What engine does the Luscombe 8E have?: Most have the Continental C85 (85% of those registered); others have the Continental O-200, Lycoming O-320, Lycoming O-235.
How many accidents has the Luscombe 8E had?: 19 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 1 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 8E have?: 10 current ADs name the 8E airframe, 0 of them with a repeat action, and 46 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.