Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Lordsburg, New Mexico, July 3, 1987
On July 3, 1987 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N5032S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lordsburg, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. 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
- July 3, 1987 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lordsburg, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N5032S · no longer on the register · serial 28R35794
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE ON A X-COUNTRY FLT, A SEVERE ENG VIBRATION BEGAN. THE PLT REDUCED POWER & SLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF THE VIBRATION. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE ELECTED TO MAKE A WHEELS-UP LANDING ON ROCKY DESERT TERRAIN. AFTER LANDING, HE DISCOVERED THE TIP OF ONE PROP BLADE HAD BROKEN OFF IN FLT. A METALLURGICAL EXAM REVEALED EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE FAILURE WHICH ORIGINATED NEAR THE LEADING EDGE OF THE BLADE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 1,452 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 1,122 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P19 Chandler AZ at 12:30 pm
- Destination: CNM Carlsbad NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.