Piper PA-24-180 accident near Emerado, North Dakota, May 22, 1987
On May 22, 1987 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-180, registered N8088P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Emerado, North Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- May 22, 1987 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Emerado, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-180 · all PA-24-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8088P · no longer on the register · serial 24-3336
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PLT WAS EN ROUTE ON A PERSONAL FLT. THIRTEEN MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION, HE SMELLED OIL FUMES AND THE CABIN FILLED WITH OIL SMOKE. THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO. THE PLT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE, VENTILATED THE CABIN, AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY TO THE DESTINATION TOWER, GFK, GIVING HIS LOCATION AND INTENTIONS. THE PLT SELECTED A PAVED COUNTY ROAD FOR THE FORCED LANDING. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE PLT SELECTED 'GEAR DOWN.' THE ACFT WAS TOO LOW TO COMPLETE THE GEAR EXTENSION AND AT TOUCHDOWN, THE GEAR COLLAPSED. A POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A BROKEN OIL LINE WHICH HAD EMPTIED THE ENGINE OIL SUPPLY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,900 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 1986; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6D8 Valley City ND at 8:00 pm
- Destination: GFK Grand Forks ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,300 ft; clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N8088P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.