The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB FTW83LA048 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA-38-112 accident near El Paso, Texas, November 30, 1982

On November 30, 1982 at about 8:31 am local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2521N, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Paso, Texas (West Texas Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
November 30, 1982 · about 8:31 am local time
Place
El Paso, Texas · West Texas Airport
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
Registration
N2521N · registry record · serial 3879A0888
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

ON LANDING THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A GO-AROUND DUE TO GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. ON THE NEXT LANDING ATTEMPT THE PILOT INITIATED A GO-AROUND FROM SHORT FINAL AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY, STALLED THE AIRCRAFT AND COLLIDED WITH SAND DUNES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT'S FLAPS WERE IN THE FULL DOWN POSITION.

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: 64 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 27 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: unk

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 718 hours
  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 27 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
  • Operator: SW Air Rangers Corporation

The flight

  • Departed from: AI
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 26, 4,300 ft by 30 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 220° at 15 knots
  • Sky: not recorded; clear
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers1

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.