Douglas DC3C accident near El Paso, Texas, October 26, 1984
On October 26, 1984 at about 11:36 pm local time, a Douglas DC3C, registered N3433U, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Paso, Texas (El Paso Intl. airport). It was an instructional 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
- October 26, 1984 · about 11:36 pm local time
- Place
- El Paso, Texas · El Paso Intl. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC3C · all DC3Cs on the register
- Registration
- N3433U · no longer on the register · serial 43087
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE AND HIGH OIL TEMP THE RIGHT ENG WAS SECURED. DURING THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING GEAR EXTENSION WAS DELAYED UNTIL APRX 800 FT AGL. SINCE THE RIGHT ENG POWERS THE ONLY HYDRAULIC PUMP A LANDING GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED CONDITION WAS NOT POSSIBLE BY THE NORMAL MEANS. AS THE GEAR WERE EXTENDED AND HYDRAULIC PRESSURE BEGAN TO DECREASE THE PLT REALIZED THAT NORMAL GEAR EXTENSION WOULD NOT OCCUR. THE ALT OF THE ACFT PRECLUDED THE EMERG EXTENTION OF THE LANDING GEAR. SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 815 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 5,930 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 25,200 lb
- Seats: 32
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1830-90C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26L, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,400 ft; scat at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.