Piper PA-28-140 accident near Gallup, New Mexico, July 15, 1988
On July 15, 1988 at about 7:08 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1578J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gallup, New Mexico (Gallup airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was 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
- July 15, 1988 · about 7:08 pm local time
- Place
- Gallup, New Mexico · Gallup · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1578J · no longer on the register · serial 2823986
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PLT & HIS WIFE WERE STARTING A CROSS-COUNTRY PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION FLT. THE ACFT WAS LOADED TO NEAR MAX GWT, & THE FSS HAD REPORTED A DENSITY ALT OF 9,600 FT TO THE PLT. AFTER TAKEOFF ON A 6,300 X 100 FT, ASPHALT RWY, THE PLT SAID THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT AT 300-400 FT AGL. THE ACFT LOST ALT TO 75-100 FT AGL. THE ACFT MAINTAINED THIS ALT FOR APRX 2 MI OVER RISING TERRAIN. THE PLT MADE A 180 DEG RT TURN TO AVOID A RESIDENTIAL AREA. HE STATED THAT THE TERRAIN SEEMED TO RISE FASTER THAN THE ACFT COULD CLIMB & THE ACFT CRASH- LANDED. THE CRASH OCCURRED WITHIN 3 MI OF THE APRT.
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: 620 hours in all; 570 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,079 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1988; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Durango CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 6, 6,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:12 pm from GUP, 3 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.