Cessna A150K accident near Mamou, Louisiana, June 23, 2012
On June 23, 2012 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna A150K, registered N8380M, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Mamou, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2012 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mamou, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A150K · all A150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N8380M · no longer on the register · serial A15000080
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the engine experienced a partial loss of engine power after encountering turbulence during cruise flight. He noted that the engine continued to operate smoothly at idle speed, but was minimally responsive to multiple throttle movements. Specifically, a full application of the throttle would result in a momentary increase of engine power before the engine went back to idle speed. The pilot applied carburetor heat, which had no observed effect on engine operation. He made a forced landing in a rice field, during which the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination of the carburetor and gascolator bowls revealed evidence of water and particulate contamination. The wing fuel tanks also contained water contamination. Additionally, an examination of the pilot's refueling container, located on his private airstrip, revealed water and particulate contamination. The filter assembly installed on the refueling container was also contaminated with particulate debris. The contamination in the fuel system, which should have been detected during a routine preflight inspection, likely resulted in the partial loss of engine power.
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
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 14,727 hours in all; 109 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 300 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,989 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Mamou LA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: PVT Mamou LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from KACP, 15 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.