Amateur-built MOTOR GLIDER accident near Terrell, Texas, May 23, 1987
On May 23, 1987 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built MOTOR GLIDER, registered N59MA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Terrell, Texas (Terrell Muni airport). 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
- May 23, 1987 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Terrell, Texas · Terrell Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MOTOR GLIDER MOTOR GLID
- Registration
- N59MA · no longer on the register · serial 322
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THE COCKPIT CANOPY OPENED DURING INITIAL CLIMB AT ABOUT 12 FEET AGL AND THAT THIS DISRUPTED THE AIR FLOW SUFFICIENTLY THAT THE AIRCRAFT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY WITH A HARD TOUCHDOWN AND THEN DEPARTED THE RUNWAY INTO THE GRASS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE CANOPY WAS PROPERLY CLOSED AND LOCKED BEFORE THE TAKEOFF WAS STARTED.
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: 54 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 506 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 26 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1987
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kfm 107E MAXI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TRL Terrell TX at 7:00 pm
- Destination: F26 Plano TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 am from DAL
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.