Stinson V77 accident near El Paso, Texas, July 9, 1989
On July 9, 1989 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Stinson V77, registered N65345, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Paso, Texas (West Texas 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
PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLL IN A HIGH CROSSWIND ENVIRONMENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1989 · about 3:30 pm local time · cases in 1989
- Place
- El Paso, Texas · West Texas · cases near this airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson V77
- Registration
- N65345 · registry record · serial 77-361
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A FULL STOP LANDING IN DIRECT CROSSWIND CONDITIONS OF 25 KNOTS, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE RUNWAY HARD SURFACE AND NOSED OVER IN SOFT SAND.
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: 1,900 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,635 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1988; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985-AN1-14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TX04 at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 39°F (4°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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N65345 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Stinson 1,728 aircraft on the register
- Engine: P&W R985-AN1-14B 1,593 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Lucky Star Ranch Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,063 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,976 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW89LA130.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.