Piper PA-24-250 accident near Decatur, Texas, May 20, 1989
On May 20, 1989 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5874P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Decatur, Texas (Decatur Municipal airport). 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
INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BY THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL DURING THE LATEST ANNUAL INSPECTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1989 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Decatur, Texas · Decatur Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5874P · registry record · serial 24-958
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HEATER MUFF FAILED, RESULTING IN EXTREME HEAT AND SMOKE UNDER THE COWLING, AND LOTS OF SMOKE IN THE CABIN. NEXT CAME A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE AIRPLANE ALIGNED WITH THE RUNWAY FOR THE FORCED LANDING. AFTER THE HARD LANDING, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE MOST RECENT ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS CONDUCTED 10 OPERATING HOUSE BEFORE THE ACDT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,295 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 142 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 2,268 as pilot in command; 637 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,411 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 22, 1989; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8F7 Decatur TX at 9:28 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,550 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.