Grumman FM-2 accident near Houston, Texas, October 14, 1983
On October 14, 1983 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Grumman FM-2, registered N12371, was destroyed in an accident near Houston, Texas (Lakeside airport). 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
- October 14, 1983 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · Lakeside
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman FM-2 · all FM-2s on the register
- Registration
- N12371 · no longer on the register · serial 86750
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD PURCHASED THE WWII FIGHTER ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE ACCIDENT & IT HAD BEEN FLOWN SEVERAL HOURS DURING THE LAST FEW DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT INTENDED TO SHOOT TOUCH-&-GO'S ON THIS FLT. AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO REMAIN IN THE PATTERN & THE ACFT OVERSHOT THE TURN TO FINAL. IT THEN MADE A 180 DEG LEFT TURN & ALIGNED WITHA SMALL CLEARING. IT THEN STALLED. SEVERAL PERSONS DESCRIBED THE ENG AS SPUTTERING, POPPING & OBSERVD SMOKE. THE PROPELLER WAS TURNING SLOWLY. ENG TEARDOWN REVEALED THAT THE CONRODS FOR CLYS 3,4 & 5 HAD DISCONNECTED FROM THEIR MASTERROD ATTACH POINTS. THE ATTACHING PINS WERE HEAT DISCOLORED & DEEPLY SCORED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 100 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 7,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright 1820-56A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from HOU, 30 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.