Piper PA-24-250 accident near El Paso, Texas, July 4, 1987
On July 4, 1987 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5777M, was destroyed in an accident near El Paso, Texas (El Paso Int'L airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people 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
- July 4, 1987 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- El Paso, Texas · El Paso Int'L
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5777M · registry record · serial PA24-1253
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ESCAPING HOT EXHAUST GAS FROM THE BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD MELTED THE SEALANT FROM SEVERAL AREAS OF THE FIREWALL WHERE HOSES, WIRES, ETC., PASS THROUGH TO THE COCIPIT AREA. HEAVY BLACK SMOKE PRODUCED BY SMOLDERING WIRE INSULATION, FIRE SHIELD MATERIAL, ETC., ENTERED THE COCKPIT AND CABIN AREA THROUGH THESE OPENINGS WEN THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH THE AIRPORT TOWER CONTROLLER. HE OPENED THE PILOT'S VENT WINDOW, EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND THE SMOKE DIMINISHED SOMEWHAT BUT WOULD BECOME MORE INTENSE EACH TIME ENGINE POWER WAS REAPPLIED. ADEQUATE POWER FOR SPEED AND RUNWAY ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE OBTAINED DUE TO THE INCREASED SMOKE. THEREFORE, A HARD, OFF RUNWAY LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED.
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: 180 hours in all; 143 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 127 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,212 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 1987; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1AS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELP El Paso TX at 5:50 pm
- Destination: 21XS Big Spring TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26L, 9,008 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from ELP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.