On August 15, 1986, a Luscombe 8F (registration N2122B) was involved in an aviation accident near Marble Canyon, AZ. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot attempting to reverse direction after waving at rafters on the Colorado River crashed his aircraft into the water. The wreckage and occupants were not recovered for nearly three months.
What happened
Witnesses reported that prior to the accident, the pilot made a low pass over a raft floating on the Colorado River. During this maneuver, the pilot appeared to be attempting to wave his wings at a group of people on the raft who were engaged in rafting activities. Following this interaction, the pilot reportedly attempted to reverse his direction. Shortly after initiating this turn, the aircraft suddenly crashed into the river.
The investigation
A search operation was initiated following the crash. However, due to the nature of the terrain and water conditions, the wreckage and occupants were not recovered until nearly three months later. Upon examination of the recovered materials, investigators found no evidence of a pre-impact mechanical problem with the aircraft.