Piper PA-22-135 accident near Floresville, Texas, February 3, 1987
On February 3, 1987 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-135, registered N3554A, was destroyed in an accident near Floresville, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- February 3, 1987 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Floresville, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-135 · all PA-22-135s on the register
- Registration
- N3554A · registry record · serial 22-1828
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HEARD A SUDDEN CHANGE IN ENGINE SOUNDS DURING FLIGHT AND REALIZED HIS MUFFLER HAD FAILED. HE WAS FLYING ABOUT 1000 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AND INITIATED A DESCENT TO 250 FEET. HEAT AND FLAMES STARTED ENTERING THE COCKPIT THROUGH THE CABIN HEAT INLET DUCT. HE THEN MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A SOFT SANDY PASTURE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. THE NOSE GEAR STRUT SEPARATED JUST ABOVE THE WHEEL AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED INVERTED. IT WAS QUICKLY CONSUMED BY FIRE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER ESCAPED WITH SERIOUS AND MINOR BURN INJURIES RESPECTIVELY.
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: 84 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 46 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,290 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 27, 1986; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: T98 San Marcos TX at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 7T9 Floresville TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from SAT, 35 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.