# Accident 20190120005769A: Navion NAVION D, Patterson, LA, January 20, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 20, 2019, 14:02 local time
- Place: Patterson, LA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.7072° N, 91.2964° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7072&lon=-91.2964&mi=10
- Aircraft: N384TL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N384TL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Navion NAVION D (registry code 6150114, https://openairdocs.org/model/navion-navion-d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NAVION NAVION D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,327 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA115) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190120005769A

## Narrative

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

RECEIVED OCCURRENCE REPORT FOR AIRCRAFT REPORTING A PROBLEM WITH ITS VERTICAL STABILIZER. TALKED TO THE PILOT AND FOUND OUT THAT WHEN HE WAS APPROACHING TO LAND AT PATTERSON AIRPORT, NOTICED A FLOCK OF TURKEY BUZZARDS CIRCLING AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. HE DIVED TO MISS THE BIRDS AND NOTICED A GUIDE WIRE OR CABLE BUT TO LATE, AND THE VERTICAL STABILIZER HIT IT, RIPPING OFF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER AND RUDDER AS AN ASSEMBLY. HE CALLED ATC IN NEW ORLEANS DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND REQUEST A SLOW TURN BACK TO THE GONZALES AIRPORT DUE TO HANDLING PROBLEMS. AFTER LANDING AT A HIGHER SPEED THEN NORMAL AND NO FLAPS HE CONTACTED THE NTSB. HE FILLED OUT THE NTSB REQUESTED REPORTS AND IS WAITING FOR MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO INSPECT AND REPAIR THE AIRCRAFT AS NECESSARY.

TRAVELED TO THE AIRPORT AND INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT THE VERTICAL STABILIZER AND RUDDER WAS TORN OFF THE FUSELAGE AND HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. TOOK PICTURES AND PLACED IN ACCIDENT FILE. EMAILED PICTURES TO THE NTSB AS REQUESTED.

## 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 GAA19CA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA115), Jan 20, 2019: Navion Navion (N384TL), Patterson, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while making an evasive maneuver to avoid birds.

## Other reports on N384TL (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20260830011309I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260830011309I), Aug 30, 2026: Navion NAVION D (N384TL), Gonzales, LA, Minor damage. At 10:59 on 08/30/2026, a Navion D landed at Louisiana Regional Airport (reg) in Gonzales, LA with nose gear partially extended and nose wheel turned to the…

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.

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