Piper PA-32-260 accident near Houston, Texas, October 16, 1987
On October 16, 1987 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3903W, was destroyed in an accident near Houston, Texas (Andrau airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- October 16, 1987 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · Andrau
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3903W · no longer on the register · serial 32849
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DEVELOPED A FIRE IN THE ENG AREA DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. WHEN THE ENG LOST POWER THE PLT ATTEMPTED A LNDG IN A SMALL PARK. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN JUST SHORT OF A DRAINAGE DITCH AND COLLIDED WITH THE SLOPING EMBANKMENT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE DITCH. POST ACC INSPECTION REVEALED A FAILED EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWED HOT EXHAUST GASES TO START A FIRE. THE EXHAUST PIPE FAILED FROM EXTENSIVE CORROSION.
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: 700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,147 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AAP Houston TX at 1:43 pm
- Destination: T03 Genoa TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:52 pm from HOU, 17 miles away
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.