Beech A36 accident near Gonzales, Louisiana, August 17, 2017
On August 17, 2017 at about 2:27 pm local time, a 1980 Beech A36, registered N48TZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Gonzales, Louisiana (Louisiana Rgnl airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to inadequate maintenance, including worn spark plugs and a leaking fuel hose fitting.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2017 · about 2:27 pm local time · cases in 2017
- Place
- Gonzales, Louisiana · Louisiana Rgnl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36, built 1980 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N48TZ · registry record · serial E-1804
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the initial climb on an instructional flight, the private pilot and instructor noticed a partial loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing into a hay field and the airplane nosed over. Following the accident, the mechanic who normally performed maintenance removed and discarded all twelve spark plugs, as several were worn. A subsequent examination and test run of the engine revealed a leaking fuel hose due to a loose B-nut. The loss of engine power was consistent with an inadequate fuel supply due to a fuel line leak. Further, it is likely that the worn spark plugs would also have contributed to 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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance other cases naming the engine
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › (general) › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Spark plugs/igniters › Fatigue/wear/corrosion other cases naming the engine
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Damaged/degraded other cases naming the fuel system
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 302 hours in all; 165 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 148 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 19, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,100 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 17,200 as pilot in command; 8,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 12, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,184 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 2016; 163 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,651 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 1,226 hours total
- Operator: Gulf Central Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: REG Gonzales LA at 2:26 pm
- Destination: REG Gonzales LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,003 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 300 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from KREG, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
GULF CENTRAL AVIATION \ Frontal view, note position of engine Firewall and all supporting structure crushed inward Boot cowl crushed Right side view
PAGE2 GULF CENTRAL AVIATION Right side view Support for lower wing attach fitting Right side Buckle in fitting support structure
PAGE3 GULF CENTRAL AVIATION ' ' '<----· ' ~I - ' Left side Keel and Support structure q oc Left side view All support structure will require replacementThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 12, 2018. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Correspondence with Federal Aviation Administrator Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N48TZ on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft A36 Bonanza 2,530 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental IO-520 9,482 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Louisiana Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Louisiana 1,274 since 1982 · 189 in the last ten years
- Louisiana 3,729 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN17LA328.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.