NTSB FTW83LA020 — 1982-10-24 · SWEETWATER, Texas, United States

Current FAA registration · N38449

Make / Model: PIPER J3C-85
Year of manufacture: 1939 · 43 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR O-200A (100 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 20140603
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A46D2C

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N38449 Piper J-3 None

Factual narrative

WHEN THE CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE FAILED TO SHOW UP FOR AN AIRSHOW THE PILOT WAS ASKED TO MAKE SOME LOW PASSES OVER THE AIRPORT AND EXPLOSIVE CHARGES WERE TO BE SET OFF TO SIMULATE BOMB BURSTS. DURING ONE LOW PASS THE CHARGES WERE EXPLODED TOO SOON. THE CONCUSSION BUCKLED THE RIBS IN THE LEFT WING,BLEW OUT THE WINDSHIELD AND BLEW ALL THE INSPECTION PANELS OFF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE AIRPORT WITH NO FURTHER DAMAGE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1982_FTW83LA020.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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