Piper PA-25 accident near Lubbock, Texas, August 5, 1987
On August 5, 1987 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-25, registered N6400Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lubbock, Texas (Lubbock International airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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
- August 5, 1987 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lubbock, Texas · Lubbock International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25 · all PA-25s on the register
- Registration
- N6400Z · no longer on the register · serial 25-530
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TOE OF THE PILOTS LEFT BOOT WAS RUBBING ON THE DISPENSING HOPPER WHICH RESTRICTED APPLICATION OF RUDDER AND BRAKE. THIS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN EXITING THE RUNWAY AND THE RESULTANT COLLISION WITH A SIGN. THE FIBERGLASS HOPPER HAD DEEP ABRASIONS JUST FORWARD AND ABOVE BOTH RUDDER PEDALS FROM THE TOES OF BOTH BOOTS RUBBING IN THE CONFINED AREA..
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,698 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 29, 1986; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Idalou TX at 1:30 pm
- Destination: LBB Lubbock TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17R, 11,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from LBB
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.