Cessna 170B accident near Iraan, Texas, May 6, 1983
On May 6, 1983 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N3038A, was destroyed in an accident near Iraan, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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 6, 1983 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Iraan, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3038A · registry record · serial 25682
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO A TRUCK DRIVER, HE WAS PROCEEDING NORTHBOUND ON A HIGHWAY, WHEN HE SAW THE AIRCRAFT ENTER WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A LOOP FROM APRX 100 FT AGL. THE WITNESS THEN LOST SIGHT OF THE ACFT, BUT SHORTLY AFTER THAT, HE SAW A LARGE EXPLOSION ON THE GROUND WHERE THE ACFT CRASHED & BURNED. RECENTLY, THE PLT HAD BEEN OBSERVED PERFORMING CHANDELLES & LAZY EIGHTS AT LOW ALT. ALSO, HE HAD RECENTLY DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF LOOPING THE ACFT & WAS ADVISED NOT TO. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED IN A 20 TO 30 DEG NOSE DOWN, WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE PLT HAD NOT RECEIVED FORMAL TRAINING IN AEROBATICS. THE ACFT WAS CERTIFIED FOR UTILITY CATEGORY OF FLT.
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
- Flight time: 560 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 7, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: E02 TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 19 knots, gusting 31
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:48 pm from MAF, 80 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.
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.