Piper J-3 accident near Sweetwater, Texas, October 24, 1982
On October 24, 1982 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Piper J-3, registered N38449, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sweetwater, Texas (Sweetwater airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- October 24, 1982 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sweetwater, Texas · Sweetwater · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3 · all J-3s on the register
- Registration
- N38449 · registry record · serial 7022
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE FAILED TO SHOW UP FOR AN AIRSHOW THE PILOT WAS ASKED TO MAKE SOME LOW PASSES OVER THE AIRPORT AND EXPLOSIVE CHARGES WERE TO BE SET OFF TO SIMULATE BOMB BURSTS. DURING ONE LOW PASS THE CHARGES WERE EXPLODED TOO SOON. THE CONCUSSION BUCKLED THE RIBS IN THE LEFT WING,BLEW OUT THE WINDSHIELD AND BLEW ALL THE INSPECTION PANELS OFF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE AIRPORT WITH NO FURTHER DAMAGE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 1,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,000 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SWW Sweetwater TX at 4:40 pm
- Destination: SWW Sweetwater TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.