Beech V35A accident near El Paso, Texas, June 10, 1987
On June 10, 1987 at about 1:33 am local time, a Beech V35A, registered N39JB, was destroyed in an accident near El Paso, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- June 10, 1987 · about 1:33 am local time
- Place
- El Paso, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35A · all V35As on the register
- Registration
- N39JB · registry record · serial D-8659
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE PWR LOSS SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK A HOUSE DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING. NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. EVIDENCE DID INDICATE THAT ONE TANK WAS EITHER DRY OR WAS UNPORTED DURING THE DEPARTURE TURN. RADAR DATA INDICATED THAT ACFT WAS IN A LEFT TURN IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE PWR LOSS. FIRE DAMAGE PATTERN INDICATED AT LEAST RESIDUAL FUEL ON BOARD AT TIME OF IMPACT. PLT, WHO WAS ALSO AN A&P MECHANIC, STATED TO ATC THAT HE WAS 'APPARENTLY' OUT OF GAS' AND THAT HE COULD NOT GET THE ENG RESTARTED. PLT HAD RECENTLY BEEN ADMONISHED BY AN INSTRUCTOR FOR NOT TAXIING OUT AND TAKING OFF ON THE FULLEST TANK.
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: 466 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 184 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,272 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 23, 1987; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ELP at 1:28 am
- Destination: 5T6 Santa Teresa NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:35 am from ELP, 2 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.