# NTSB FTW90LA082: Cessna 177A, N30327, Leesville, LA, March 11, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 11, 1990, 01:25 local (07:25 UTC)
- Place: Leesville, LA
- Coordinates: 31.129173, -93.269241 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1292&lon=-93.2692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23115
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90LA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23115/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90LA082

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE ROUGH TREE COVERED TERRAIN IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED AND THE BRIGHT NIGHT CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - light condition - bright night (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS ON A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, AND HAD JUST LEVELED OFF AFTER A DESCENT, WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS ABLE TO START IT TWICE FOR SHORT PERIODS, BUT COULD NOT KEEP IT RUNNING. HE SAID HE HAD PULLED THE CARBURETOR HEAT ON BEFORE STARTING THE DESCENT. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES, AND THEN THE TERRAIN. THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEMS WERE INSPECTED BUT THE REASON FOR THE POWER LOSS COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. A REVIEW OF THE ICING PROBABILITY CHART INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS IN AN AREA WHERE SERIOUS ICING COULD HAVE OCCURRED AT GLIDE POWER. LATER, THE ENGINE WAS RUN AT LESS THAN FULL POWER, AND IT OPERATED NORMALLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N30327](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30327-2012-09-05), registration cancelled 2012-09-05, S/N 17701195, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177A
- Registry model: [Cessna 177A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177a) (registry code 2073706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17701195
- Airframe hours: 2045
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2F 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: N30327 Association, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, November 27, 1989, 34 hours before
- Departed: SHV, SHREVEPORT, LA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 140 total, 140 in this make and model, 75 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 225° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,900 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900311003729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900311003729A), Mar 11, 1990: Cessna 177A, Leesville, LA, Destroyed. Engine quit after descent approaching destination. Crash landed in trees. Carburetor icing conditions existed.

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.

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