Piper PA-28-180 accident near Winnfield, Louisiana, August 12, 2010
On August 12, 2010, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N9507J, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Winnfield, Louisiana (David G. Joyce Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2010
- Place
- Winnfield, Louisiana · David G. Joyce Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N9507J · no longer on the register · serial 28-3628
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to perform touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings. After takeoff, as the airplane was passing 650 feet above the ground and the airspeed was about 80 mph, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane in a turn in an attempt to return to the airport, during which the airplane collided with trees. The pilot indicated that there was 25 gallons of fuel on board the airplane at takeoff. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the airplane after recovery. They reported finding no fuel in the fuel system and no fuel blight on the trees. The recovery team reported similar findings.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,819 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 4, 2010; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0R5 Winnfield LA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: 0R5 Winnfield LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,002 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from AEX, 46 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.