Cessna 172 accident near New Orleans, Louisiana, November 24, 2013
On November 24, 2013 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 2001 Cessna 172, registered N113SF, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) near New Orleans, Louisiana (Lakefront airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after starting the engine, which resulted in a collision with a building.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 2013 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- New Orleans, Louisiana · Lakefront · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 S, built 2001 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N113SF · no longer on the register · serial 172S8761
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane had just returned from a training flight and the engine was still warm. The pilot said she had difficulty starting the engine and opened the throttle "just a bit." She said she set the parking brake and her feet were on the brakes. When the engine started, it went to high rpm. The airplane lurched forward and collided with the fixed base operator building. Examination of the brake system revealed no anomalies
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 control on ground during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during standing (engine(s) operating)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Residence/building › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 172 hours in all; 102 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 24, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,586 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 3, 2013; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 886 hours total
- Operator: Gulf Coast Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: KNEW New Orleans LA
- Destination: KNEW New Orleans LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KNEW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.