Piper PA-12 accident near El Paso, Texas, June 29, 1983
On June 29, 1983 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N3483M, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Paso, Texas (El Paso Int'L airport). It was a personal 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
- June 29, 1983 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- El Paso, Texas · El Paso Int'L · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N3483M · registry record · serial 12-2339
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH-&-GO LANDINGS & STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN FLYING WITH THE MIXTURE LEANED. AFTER A LANDING, HE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE, BUT THE ENG COUGHED & SPUTTERED. HE THEN ADVANCE THE MIXTURE TO RICH TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT, WENT OFF THE RWY, CONTACTED A SAND DUNE & NOSED OVER. THE PLT HAD JUST TRANSITIONED TO TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED ACFT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 326 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,782 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 28, 1982; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-230-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 am from ELP
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.