Piper PA-22-108 accident near Fabens, Texas, February 23, 1988
On February 23, 1988 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-108, registered N5542Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fabens, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1988 · about 5:45 pm local time · cases in 1988
- Place
- Fabens, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-108 · all PA-22-108s on the register
- Registration
- N5542Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-9333
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENG RAN ROUGH ON A PREVIOUS FLT AND HE REMOVED, CLEANED, AND REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS. HE THEN TOOK OFF AND AT A POINT SEVEN MILES FROM THE DEPARTURE ARPT, THE ENG AGAIN BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND INTERMITTENTLY. AN EMERGENCY LANDING BECAME NECESSARY AND DURING THE LANDING IN ROUGH TERRAIN, THE NOSE GEAR BROKE, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE AND DID NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED POWER LOSS. IN HIS REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PLT STATES THAT RUBBER PARTICLES, POSSIBLY FROM FUEL LINES, WERE FOUND IN THE FUEL. THE ACFT WAS BEING OPERATED ON AUTO FUEL.
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: 387 hours in all; 223 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 324 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,901 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 1987; 146 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E35 at 5:35 pm
- Destination: TX04 El Paso TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from ELP, 13 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.
Other NTSB records under N5542Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5542Z: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer and Colt 2,943 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,840 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1B 20 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Fabens Airport · departed from
- Lucky Star Ranch Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,063 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,976 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N5542Z 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW88LA070.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.