Piper PA28 accident near Shreveport, Louisiana, July 19, 2018
On July 19, 2018 at about 1:02 pm local time, a 1976 Piper PA28, registered N7080F, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Shreveport, Louisiana (Shreveport Executive airport). 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 partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2018 · about 1:02 pm local time
- Place
- Shreveport, Louisiana · Shreveport Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28, built 1976 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N7080F · no longer on the register · serial 28-7725-085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on a postmaintenance check flight after an annual inspection on the previous day. According to the pilot, the airplane was flown in the local traffic pattern before departing the area. As the airplane climbed through 2,500 ft, it was not climbing more than 300 ft per minute without losing airspeed, and the pilot noticed a decrease in engine rpm. The pilot indicated that the oil pressure and oil temperature were normal, the vacuum gauge indicated "zero," and gyroscopic instruments began to drift and tumble. The pilot proceeded directly for the nearest airport, and when on final approach for the runway, the engine rpm and airspeed decreased. The engine did not respond to throttle inputs, and the pilot landed the airplane on a river levy. The airplane bounced, contacted a road, and came to rest against the airport perimeter fence, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. Examination of the engine revealed that the output shaft of the vacuum pump was sheared. It could not be determined if the vacuum pump output shaft failed before or during the accident sequence. Additional engine information was not available. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined.
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 maneuvering defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Accessory gear › boxes › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 265 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: January 5, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,301.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 2018; 0 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 3,301 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DTN Shreveport LA at 12:30 pm
- Destination: DTN Shreveport LA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from DTN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 23, 2020. 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 Statement CEN18LA281 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record FAA Inspector Findings CEN18LA281 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array CEN18LA281 | PDF, 2 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.