- Date
- January 7, 1982, 00:45 local (06:45 UTC)
- Place
- Laredo, TX
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N1698MCurtis C46
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report January 7, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820107000859A
- Case key
- 71370
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While performing the exterior inspection the pilot noted that fuel was dripping from both wings inboard of the fuel tanks at the rear attach angle fairing plates. Just after starting the right engine an explosion occurred in the right wing. The crew shut down the engine and while departing the aircraft the left wing exploded. Examination revealed both the right front and rear fuel tank filler necks were loose and could be turned by hand. The filler neck washer was corroded and filler neck scupper was cracked.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1698M
- Reported as
- Curtis C46
- Category
- Airplane
- Airframe hours
- 37,893
- Engine
- P&W R-2350, 2,500 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 125
- Operator
- South Central Aviation
- Registered owner
- South Central Aviation
- Departed
- LRD · Laredo, TX
- Destination
- Tampico, Mexico, OF
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- LRD · Laredo Intl
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 14,553 total · 7,800 in this make and model · 13,553 as pilot in command · 121 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 30° at 6 knots
- Temperature
- 138 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.