- Date
- February 22, 1996, 10:07 local (16:07 UTC)
- Place
- Iowa, LA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N775NACessna 172P
- Weather
- Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 11, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960222002459A
- Case key
- 19768
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's selection of the wrong runway for landing, his delay in initiating a go-around (aborted landing), and his failure to maintain clearance from the transmission lines. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's improper weather evaluation, the resultant tailwind, and the proximity of transmission lines to the runway.
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
During arrival, the pilot made an instrument approach to the Chennault Industrial Airport, then proceeded to land at Morgan field, which was about 5 miles away. He elected to land on runway 5 (sod strip, 1,800 foot long), although the wind was from 220 degrees at 12 knots. Witnesses observed the airplane approaching 'high and fast.' After touching down within the first 1/3 of the runway, the pilot noticed that his ground roll speed was fast, and he elected to abort the landing. The airplane became airborne past the midfield point. The pilot retracted the flaps and established the best angle of climb speed in an attempt to clear power lines. However, during the initial climb, the aft portion of the fuselage impacted the power lines, and the airplane crashed.
Factual narrative
On February 22, 1996, at 1007 central standard time, a Cessna 172P, N775NA, was substantially damaged upon impact with power lines while maneuvering near Iowa, Louisiana. The airline transport rated pilot sustained serious injuries, while his passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was being operated by Gulf Air Enterprises, Inc., of Thibodaux, Louisiana, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Houma, Louisiana. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and an IFR flight plan was filed.
According Air Traffic Control personnel at the Chennault Industrial Airport, the airplane executed an instrument approach to the Chennault Industrial Airport, and when clear of cloud, proceeded VFR to their destination airport, the Morgan's private airstrip. The Morgan airstrip is located approximately 5 miles east of Chennault. The airstrip is owned by Gulf Air Enterprises and is used primarily for agricultural spraying operations.
According to witnesses at the airstrip, the was airplane was observed approaching the 1,800 foot sod airstrip downwind from the south, and it appeared to be "high and fast". After touching down within the first 1/3 of the runway, the pilot "noticed that his ground roll speed was fast" and he elected to abort the landing by applying full power. The airplane became airborne past the mid field point and the pilot retracted the flaps and established the best angle of climb speed to attempt to clear the power lines at the departure end of the strip. During climbout, the rear of the fuselage impacted the power lines resulting in a loss of control.
In the enclosed narrative, the pilot stated that during his approach to the Chenault Airport, he was given the winds from 220 degrees at 12 knots.
Post-accident examination of the airframe, engine, and systems, did not reveal any pre-mishap anomalies that would have prevented normal operations.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N775NA
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17274226
- Airframe hours
- 5,638
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gulf Air Enterprises Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · February 20, 1996 · 4 hours before
- Departed
- HUM · Houma, LA
- Destination
- NONE · LA
- Flight plan
- VFR/IFR
- Airport
- 3LA9 · Morgan Field, runway 5, 1,700 × 60 ft, grass/turf
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
- 40
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,868 total · 254 in this make and model · 3,960 as pilot in command · 91 in the last 90 days · 22 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Day
- Wind
- 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 700 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CWF, 5 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.