NTSB CAROL · Event
Event FTW83LA020
Registry · N38449
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
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
Registrant of record
WOOLSLAYER JOSEPH P
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
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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