Amateur-built VP-2 accident near Houston, Texas, October 16, 1982
On October 16, 1982 at about 4:45 pm local time, a amateur-built VP-2, registered N3SW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Houston, Texas. It was a ferry 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 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
- October 16, 1982 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VP-2
- Registration
- N3SW · registry record · serial V2-1053
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKING OFF, THE PILOT FLEW BACK BY THE AIRPORT AND THEN BEGAN TO CLIMB AGAIN. WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH ABOUT 700 FT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE AIRPORT. DURING A LANDING, HE CLEARED OVER AN AREA WITH TREES BUT STRUCK A POWER LINE AND CRASHED. HE REPORTED THAT HE HAD JUST INSTALLED A PRIMER WITHOUT A LOCKING DEVICE. REPORTEDLY, THE PRIMER OPENED DURING FLIGHT AND FLOODED THE ENGINE. THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST FLIGHT IN THIS AIRCRAFT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 72 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 18 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 107 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagon (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Begman Airpark TX at 11:40 am
- Destination: Wolf Airpark TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 180°F (82°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.