Aero Commander 680 accident near El Paso, Texas, February 19, 1988
On February 19, 1988 at about 4:58 pm local time, a Aero Commander 680, registered N634SA, was destroyed in an accident near El Paso, Texas (El Paso Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 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
- February 19, 1988 · about 4:58 pm local time
- Place
- El Paso, Texas · El Paso Intl
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 680 · all 680s on the register
- Registration
- N634SA · no longer on the register · serial 680509179
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED, NON MULTIENGINE RATED PILOT, WHOSE MEDICAL HAD EXPIRED, LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING AN IFR FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED AND BURNED. THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO RETURN AND LAND AFTER HE REPORTED A LANDING GEAR PROBLEM. IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHAT LANDING GEAR MALFUNCTION EXISTED.
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: 3,012 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 2,839 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GSO-480-B1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ELP at 3:49 pm
- Destination: PSP Palm Springs CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:49 pm from ELP, 1 miles away
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.