Champion 7AC and Grumman G-164A mid-air collision near Justin, Texas, July 12, 1982
On July 12, 1982 at about 1:20 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Champion 7AC (N2434E) and Grumman G-164A (N48635), were involved in a mid-air collision near Justin, Texas (Sitton Field). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- July 12, 1982 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Justin, Texas · Sitton Field · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Champion 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N2434E · registry record · serial 7AC6013
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N48635 · registry record · serial 1684
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Champion 7AC final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS AIRCRAFT WAS ON A STRAIGHT-IN, FINAL APPROACH AT ABOUT 150 FEET AGL WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HIS AIRCRAFT WAS STRUCK FROM ABOVE AND BEHIND. BOTH AIRCRAFT REMAINED LOCKED TOGETHER UNTIL THE CRASH ON THE RUNWAYAND NOSED OVER. THIS PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES, BUT WAS HOSPITILIZED FOR POISON SPRAY INHALATION. THE OTHER PILOT WAS UNINJURIED. THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT STATED THAT HE WAS TURNING FINAL WHEN THEY COLLIDED.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Grumman G-164A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AERIAL APPLICATION AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING TO LAND WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT THAT WAS ON A STRAIGHT-IN FINAL APPROACH. THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT STATED THAT HE WAS BELOW AND AHEAD AT ABOUT 150 FEET AGL WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. BOTH AIRCRAFT CRASHED TOGETHER ON THE RUNWAY AND FLIPPED INVERTED. THE APPLICATOR PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE OTHER PILOT HAD MINOR INJURIES BUT WAS HOSPITILIZED FOR INHALATION OF POISON SPRAY.
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 for the Champion 7AC from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 198 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 161 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,328 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3TX6 Justin TX at 8:10 am
- Destination: 3TX6 Justin TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Grumman G-164A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,200 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P & W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3TX3 Justin TX at 7:00 am
- Destination: 3TX3 Justin TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,500 ft
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.
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.