Douglas DC-3A accident near Sandwich, Illinois, May 29, 1982
On May 29, 1982 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Douglas DC-3A, registered N129H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sandwich, Illinois (Sandwich airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1982 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sandwich, Illinois · Sandwich
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC-3A · all DC-3As on the register
- Registration
- N129H · registry record · serial 4126
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER RETURNING FROM A PARACHUTE JUMPING FLIGHT, THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON THE 1800 FT GRASS RUNWAY. A 3000 FT ASPHALT RUNWAY WAS AVAILABLE, BUT HE HAD BEEN USING THE GRASS RUNWAY TO AVOID WEAR ON THE TIRES. THERE WAS A 30 FT POWERLINE AT THE APPROACH END OF THE GRASS RUNWAY AND THE SOD WAS WET. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS LIGHT RAIN AND THE WIND WAS CALM. REPORTEDLY, THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 200 FT FROM THE APPROACH END, BUT THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED OFF THE END AND COLLIDED WITH BRUSH AND TREES. THE COMPUTED LANDING DISTANCE OVER A 50 FT OBSTACLE ON A HARD RUNWAY WAS ABOUT 1500 FT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,020 hours in all; 1,941 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 2,850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 51,696 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 25,200 lb
- Seats: 32
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1830 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Sandwich IL at 2:45 pm
- Destination: Sandwich IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,800 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.