Douglas DC-3 accident near Laredo, Texas, January 19, 1989
On January 19, 1989 at about 2:43 am local time, a Douglas DC-3, registered XBDYP, was destroyed in an accident near Laredo, Texas (Laredo Int'L airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PIC'S DISREGARD FOR THE SECURITY OF THE CARGO THAT PERMITTED ITS SHIFT DURING THE TAKOEFF ROLL. THIS RESULTED IN AN AFT CG SITUATION AND A SUBSEQUENT STALL AND LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE MISMANAGEMENT OF THE ENGINE POWER BY THE CREW AND THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE OF THE CO-PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 19, 1989 · about 2:43 am local time
- Place
- Laredo, Texas · Laredo Int'L · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC-3 · all DC-3s on the register
- Registration
- XBDYP · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 35L, THE CO-PILOT ON THE FLIGHT CONTROLS REDUCED LEFT PROPELLER AND RIGHT ENGINE POWER AT AN ALTITUDE OF LESS THAN 100 FEET AGL. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE TAKEOFF POWER WHILE APPLYING FORWARD PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL YOKE, BUT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN ADJACENT TO THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE CARGO MAY HAVE SHIFTED TO THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING TAKEOFF.
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, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 3,800 in this make and model; 7,700 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 26,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R1830-92 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LRD Lardeo TX at 2:44 am
- Destination: MMTC Torreon
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 35L, 7,810 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 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.