Cessna 175 accident near De Ridder, Louisiana, September 2, 2004
On September 2, 2004 at about 10:25 pm local time, a Cessna 175, registered N6517E, was substantially damaged in an accident near De Ridder, Louisiana (Beauregard Regional Airport). It was a personal 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
The partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2004 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- De Ridder, Louisiana · Beauregard Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N6517E · registry record · serial 56017
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 290-hour pilot reported that shortly after take-off, when the airplane was approximately 175 feet above ground level (agl) and approximately 4,000 feet down the 5,495- foot-long and 100-foot-wide runway, the engine lost power and was unable to maintain altitude. He elected to execute a forced landing, and turned approximately seven degrees to the left of the runway to avoid hitting a localizer antennae located near the end of the runway; however, the airplane impacted a fence with the left wing. The engine was later test run under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The reason for the reported 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 290 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 233 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 19, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2004; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KDRI De Ridder LA
- Destination: LA29 Leesville LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,945 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from KPOE, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.