- Date
- July 4, 1987, 11:55 local (17:55 UTC)
- Place
- El Paso, TX
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5777MPiper PA-24-250
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 1988
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870704032229A
- Case key
- 22257
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
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insulation, fire shield material, etc., entered the cockpit and cabin area through these openings wen the landing gear was retracted.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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5777M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-250
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- PA24-1253
- Airframe hours
- 3,212
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-A1AS, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Monroe Casey, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 22, 1987 · 24 hours before
- Departed
- ELP · El Paso, TX
- Destination
- 21XS · Big Spring, TX
- Airport
- ELP · El Paso Int'L, runway 26L, 9,008 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 180 total · 143 in this make and model · 127 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 97 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ELP
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.