Piper PA-32-260 accident near Lagrange, Georgia, December 6, 1987
On December 6, 1987 at about 7:43 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N5587J, was destroyed in an accident near Lagrange, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. 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
- December 6, 1987 · about 7:43 pm local time
- Place
- Lagrange, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N5587J · no longer on the register · serial 32-1047
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT LOST POWER IN CRUISE, IN DAY, VMC. MADE APCH TO INTERSTATE HWY I85. HIT OVERPASS SUPPORT COLUMN AT 15 FEET AGL. ENGINE OVERHAULED 51 HOURS BEFORE ACCIDENT. OVERHAUL RECORDS INDICATED MAGNETO REPAIR. ANNUAL INSP RECORDS INDICATED COMPLIANCE WITH AD 78-09-07, REGARDING MAGNETO. POSTCRASH EVIDENCE INDICATED INADEQUATE OVERHAUL, CARBURETOR AND MAGNETO NOT OVERHAULED. MECHANIC HAD LENGHTY HISTORY OF VIOLATIONS BY FAA FOR IMPROPER REPAIRS. POSTCRASH TESTING SHOWED LEFT MAG FIRING INTERMITTENTLY & CARB THROTTLE VALVE SEALS LEAKING, INDUCING A LEAN MIXTURE. CARB ACCELERATOR PUMP WEAK. ENGINE HESITATED WHEN THROTTLE JAMMED DURING POSTCRASH ENGINE RUN. PIC GOT PVT CERTIFICATE 9/73.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,325 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 17, 1987; 122 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PIM Pine Mountain GA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 47A Canton GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from CSH, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.