Piper PA-24-260 accident near El Paso, Texas, November 9, 1982
On November 9, 1982 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-260, registered N8705P, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Paso, Texas. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- November 9, 1982 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- El Paso, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260 · all PA-24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N8705P · registry record · serial 244152
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A BUSINESS CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE FUEL PRESSURE BEGAN DROPPING WITH A SUBSEQUENT DROP IN POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REDUCE MANIFOLD PRESSURE TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING. APPROXIMATELY 3-5 MILES FROM EL PASO AIRPORT THE PILOT LANDED ON THE DESERT. DURING LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A MOUND OF SAND AND GROUND LOOPED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY REASON FOR LOSS OF FUEL FLOW AND ENGINE STOPPAGE.
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: 571 hours in all; 427 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 388 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,043 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Central Machinery Company
The flight
- Departed from: SAT San Antonio TX at 1:00 pm
- Destination: CGZ Casa Grande AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.