Piper PA-22 accident near Angel Fire, New Mexico, March 19, 1988
On March 19, 1988 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N3254Z, was destroyed in an accident near Angel Fire, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- March 19, 1988 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Angel Fire, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N3254Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-7202
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT COULD NOT OUTCLIMB RAPIDLY RISING TERRAIN OFF THE END OF THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH TREES/TERRAIN. EXAM OF WRECKAGE DISCLOSED FOULED PLUGS FROM RICH MIXTURE AND LOW CYL COMPRESSION. EXAM OF AIRPORT INFO DID NOT DESCRIBE TOPOGRAPHY HAZARDS. PILOT INFORMATION INDICATED A LACK OF HIGH ALTITUDE AIRPORT OPERATIONS,MOUNTAIN TRAINING, AND/OR EXPERIENCE. AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY WAS INADEQUATE TO MEET THE FIRST CLIMB SEGMENT. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME WAS ABOUT 8,500 FEET.
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: 243 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 163 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,438 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 1987; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AXX Angel Fire NM at 10:15 pm
- Destination: Clovis NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.