Cessna 140 accident near San Ysidro, New Mexico, September 26, 1987
On September 26, 1987 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N76907, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Ysidro, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- September 26, 1987 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- San Ysidro, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N76907 · no longer on the register · serial 11349
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT AND PAX WERE ON A LCL SIGHTSEEING FLT. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN FLYING LOW AND SLOW AT A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND DID NOT COOL OFF AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD. THE ACFT BALLOONED AND TOUCHED DOWN OVER A RISE IN THE ROAD. ACFT CRESTED A SECOND HILL AND COLLIDED WITH A CATTLE GUARD AND GATE. POST CRASH EXAM REVEALED OIL DIPSTICK WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED AND OIL ESCAPED FROM OIL FILLER TUBE.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 444 hours in all; 310 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 318 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,520 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 19, 1986; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E98 Los Lunas NM at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 pm from ABQ, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.