Piper PA-32-260 accident near Fulton, Texas, November 4, 1987
On November 4, 1987 at about 5:18 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3666W, was destroyed in an accident near Fulton, Texas (Aransas County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- November 4, 1987 · about 5:18 pm local time
- Place
- Fulton, Texas · Aransas County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3666W · no longer on the register · serial 32-574
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT DEPARTED IN CONDITIONS OF LOW CEILING AND VISIBILITY WITH A STUDENT PLT AND PAX ON BOARD. WITNESSES AT THE ARPT ESTIMATED THE CEILING AS 150 TO 300 FT OVC WITH 1/8 TO 1/4 MILE VIS IN FOG. AFTER LIFT OFF THE ACFT ENTERED THE FOG IN A RT CLIMBING TURN AND REAPPEARED OVER THE RUNWAY HEADING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT VERY LOW ALTITUDE. WITNESSES ON THE BEACH, ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE ARPT STATED THAT THE WEATHER WAS 'POOR AND FOGGY'. THEY OBSERVED THE ACFT IMPACT THE WATER IN A RT BANK AND DISAPPEAR. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENG DRIVEN VACUUM PUMP WAS INOPERATIVE AT THE TIME OF T/O. THE PUMP HAD A SHEARED DRIVE SHAFT THAT EXHIBITED CONSIDERABLE WEAR. IN ADDITION, THE PUMP VANES WERE EXCESSIVELY WORN AND ONE VANE WAS FOUND JAMMED BETWEEN THE ROTOR AND THE CASE. DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE PUMP REVEALED THAT IT HAD BEEN INOPERATIVE FOR SOME TIME PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,423 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 1986; 102 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RKP Rockport TX at 5:15 pm
- Destination: Freeport TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.