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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2017 · about 2:27 pm local time
- Place
- Gonzales, Louisiana · Louisiana Rgnl · 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
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › (general) › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Spark plugs/igniters › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Damaged/degraded
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 |
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 | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.