Curtis C46 accident near Laredo, Texas, January 7, 1982
On January 7, 1982 at about 6:45 am local time, a Curtis C46, registered N1698M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Laredo, Texas (Laredo Intl airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under large-aircraft private carriage rules (Part 125). No one was hurt; 3 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
- January 7, 1982 · about 6:45 am local time
- Place
- Laredo, Texas · Laredo Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Curtis C46
- Registration
- N1698M · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · large-aircraft private carriage rules (Part 125)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PERFORMING THE EXTERIOR INSPECTION THE PILOT NOTED THAT FUEL WAS DRIPPING FROM BOTH WINGS INBOARD OF THE FUEL TANKS AT THE REAR ATTACH ANGLE FAIRING PLATES. JUST AFTER STARTING THE RIGHT ENGINE AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN THE RIGHT WING. THE CREW SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND WHILE DEPARTING THE AIRCRAFT THE LEFT WING EXPLODED. EXAMINATION REVEALED BOTH THE RIGHT FRONT AND REAR FUEL TANK FILLER NECKS WERE LOOSE AND COULD BE TURNED BY HAND. THE FILLER NECK WASHER WAS CORRODED AND FILLER NECK SCUPPER WAS CRACKED.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 14,553 hours in all; 7,800 in this make and model; 121 in the last 90 days; 13,553 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 37,893 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,800 lb
- Seats: 69
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-2350 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: South Central Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: LRD Laredo TX
- Destination: Tampico, Mexico OF
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 138°F (59°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
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.