El Paso Int'l Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

El Paso, Texas 77927
Saturday, July 4, 1987 11:55 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ESCAPING HOT EXHAUST GAS FROM THE BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD MELTED THE SEALANT FROM SEVERAL AREAS OF THE FIREWALL WHERE HOSES, WIRES, ETC., PASS THROUGH TO THE COCIPIT AREA. HEAVY BLACK SMOKE PRODUCED BY SMOLDERING WIRE INSULATION, FIRE SHIELD MATERIAL, ETC., ENTERED THE COCKPIT AND CABIN AREA THROUGH THESE OPENINGS WEN THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH THE AIRPORT TOWER CONTROLLER. HE OPENED THE PILOT'S VENT WINDOW, EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND THE SMOKE DIMINISHED SOMEWHAT BUT WOULD BECOME MORE INTENSE EACH TIME ENGINE POWER WAS REAPPLIED. ADEQUATE POWER FOR SPEED AND RUNWAY ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE OBTAINED DUE TO THE INCREASED SMOKE. THEREFORE, A HARD, OFF RUNWAY LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/4/1987
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1155
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City EL PASO
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77927
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport EL PASO INT'L
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ELP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 3956
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1156 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ELP
Elevation of weather observation facility 3956
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 36
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 455
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 6 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33602
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5777M
NTSB Number FTW87FA161
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-250
Aircraft Serial Number PA24-1253
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 22 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 24
Airframe Hours 3212
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MONROE CASEY, JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1602 WASSON ROAD
Aircraft Owner City BIG SPRING
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79720
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code ELP
Departure City EL PASO
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1150
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 21XS
Destination City BIG SPRING
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26L
Runway Length 9008
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --