Cessna 305A accident near Sulphur, Louisiana, November 24, 2015
On November 24, 2015 at about 7:47 pm local time, a 1951 Cessna 305A, registered N5312G, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern crosswind) near Sulphur, Louisiana (Southland Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to water and contaminants in the carburetor, which resulted in a forced landing to a wet field.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 2015 · about 7:47 pm local time
- Place
- Sulphur, Louisiana · Southland Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 305A A, built 1951 · all 305As on the register
- Registration
- N5312G · no longer on the register · serial 22746
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After about 50 minutes of uneventful flight, the commercial pilot was performing touch-and-go landings. After completing the second touch-and-go landing, the pilot applied full power for takeoff, pushed the carburetor heat control to the forward (off) position, rotated off the runway, and started a standard climb to pattern altitude. While turning on crosswind to set up for a full-stop landing, the engine lost total power. The pilot executed a forced landing in a field with dense, wet vegetation, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot-rated passenger reported that the entire flight was normal until the loss of engine power and forced landing. The weather conditions were conducive to the formation of moderate carburetor icing at cruise power or serious icing at descent power. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the carburetor was intact and was not impact damaged before disassembly. Further examination found water and corrosion in the carburetor bowl. Although the weather conditions were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing, because of the amount of water and corrosion found in the carburetor, it is likely that the fuel system was contaminated, which caused the 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
- Fuel contamination during approach (VFR pattern crosswind) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern crosswind)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy terrain › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,739 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,965 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 6, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,101 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 1,965 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 52LA Bell City LA at 6:45 pm
- Destination: UXL Sulpher LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from LCH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 9, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memorandum for the Record - Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record - Pilot Rated Passenger Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for the Record - Engine Examination Factual Findings | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for the Record - Weather Information and Carburetor Icing Probabilty | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N5312G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.