# Accident 20031223034759A: Cessna 172K, New Orleans, LA, December 23, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 23, 2003, 14:40 local time
- Place: New Orleans, LA
- Airport: New Orleans International-Moisant Fld
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.1175° N, 93.2233° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1175&lon=-93.2233&mi=10
- Aircraft: N111TK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N111TK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172K (registry code 2072430, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Reported engine: LYC O320E2D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,350 total, 700 in this make and model, 225 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA063) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031223034759A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PILOT WAS ENROUTE FROM STENNIS, LA AIRPORT TO HOMA, LA AIRPORT ON DECEMBER 23, 2004. THE AIRCRAFT WAS STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT AT 1,500 FT. ALTITUDE WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS POPPING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THE PILOT THEN LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN A SATURATED FIELD APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES EAST OF MSY. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AND THE NOSE WHEEL BECAME EMBEDDED IN THE MUD WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER ON ITS BACK. THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE HAD TWO DISTINCT HOLES IN THE CASE WHICH APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A CONNECTING ROD THAT HAD FAILED. THERE WAS ALSO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE COWLING, FIREWALL, WINGS AND TAIL. AIRCRAFT RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OVERHAULED 300 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW04LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA063), Dec 23, 2003: Cessna 172K (N111TK), Lake Charles, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The disintegration of the piston, which resulted in the catastrophic failure of the engine. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.