Douglas DC-3-3C accident near Laredo, Texas, November 1, 1983
On November 1, 1983 at about 2:30 am local time, a Douglas DC-3-3C, registered N44896, was destroyed in an accident near Laredo, Texas (Laredo Internationl airport). It was a ferry 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 1, 1983 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Laredo, Texas · Laredo Internationl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC-3-3C · all DC-3-3Cs on the register
- Registration
- N44896 · no longer on the register · serial 9665
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ORIGINAL FLT WAS ABORTED DUE TO A MAGNETO PROBLEM. THE DEFECT WAS CORRECTED, BUT DUE TO THE DELAYED TAKEOFF, THE PLT ELECTED TO FLY TO MCALLEN, TX, FOR FURTHER REPAIRS. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRCREW NOTED SPARKS/FLARES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CARGO/CABIN AREA, BEHIND A BULKHEAD. THE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF & ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, BUT WERE UNABLE. THE CREW THEN EVACUATED THE ACFT & THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. AN INVESTIGATION WAS MADE, BUT THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,100 hours in all; 5,100 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 4,850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40,694 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 25, 1983; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 26,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1830-92 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: MFE Mcallen TX
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 17, 7,809 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 100° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from LRD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.