Piper PA-18 accident near Sweetwater, Texas, March 29, 2007
On March 29, 2007 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N744, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sweetwater, Texas (Avenger Field). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to the failure of the throttle lever/linkage. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2007 · about 4:15 pm local time · cases in 2007
- Place
- Sweetwater, Texas · Avenger Field · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N744 · registry record · serial 18-8309009
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 6,127-hour commercial pilot discovered that the throttle was locked and would not advance when he attempted to add power after leveling off during an enroute descent. The airplane continued to descend, and the pilot tried to "wiggle the throttle back and forth" but the throttle would not advance beyond 1,000 RPM. During the subsequent forced landing, just prior to touch down, the pilot pushed the throttle forward very hard and felt the throttle pop loose, and the pilot was able to move the throttle aft and forward; however, with no affect to the engine RPM. The airplane landed on rough and uneven terrain and the airplane nosed-over during the ground roll. A review of the airframe logbooks noted the aircraft had previously been repaired after previous mishaps. Additionally, the airframe had completely been rebuilt in July 2003, including replacement of the firewall during the scheduled overhaul for the airplane. A newly overhauled engine had been installed approximately 3.5 hours prior to the accident. The investigation revealed that a throttle cable support angle was missing from the firewall. No evidence was found to confirm that the support angle was installed when the engine firewall was last replaced.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,127 hours in all; 5,997 in this make and model; 102 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 5,884 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,955 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 1, 2007; 1.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SWW Sweetwater TX
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,500 ft; ovct at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 4:05 pm from KSWW, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N744 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N744 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-18 Super Cub 3,620 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,838 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 27,303 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Avenger Field · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,065 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,960 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N744 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DFW07TA089.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.