Piper PA-24-250 accident near Monticello, Utah, May 31, 1987
On May 31, 1987, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N7744P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monticello, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. 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 31, 1987
- Place
- Monticello, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N7744P · registry record · serial 24-2959
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE THE PAX SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE PLT CIRCLED THE ARPT AND DETERMINED THE FLT COULD CONTINUE. A SHORT TIME LATER THE BURNING SMELL RETURNED FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE. THE PLT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD AND THE ACFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ENG REVEALED THE FUEL PRESSURE LINE BETWEEN THE CARBURETOR AND THE FIREWALL WAS IN A STATE OF DETERIORATION AND HAD SEVERAL HOLES IN IT. THE AREA OF DETERIORATION OCCURRED TO A PORTION OF THE LINE THAT IS EXPOSED TO HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.
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: 491 hours in all; 103 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 420 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,244 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 1986; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-AID5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: BDG Lake Powell UT
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.