Piper PA-28-140 accident near Krotz Springs, Louisiana, March 11, 1986
On March 11, 1986 at about 4:15 am local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N40820, was substantially damaged in an accident near Krotz Springs, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 1986 · about 4:15 am local time
- Place
- Krotz Springs, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N40820 · registry record · serial 28-7425172
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A ROAD SIGN DURING A FORCED LANDING ON A HIWAY FOLLOWING FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT HAD MADE A X-COUNTRY FLT AND ONLY ADDED TEN GALS OF FUEL FOR THE RETURN TRIP. HIS ESTIMATE OF FUEL REMAINING WAS INACCURATE PARTLY BECAUSE THE CARBURETOR WAS IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED AND LEAKED UNDER PRESSURE. PAST FUEL RECORDS SHOWED FUEL CONSUMPTION RANGED BETWEEN 9 & 12.5 GALS/HR. POST-ACC INVEST REVEALED THAT BOTH WING TANKS WERE EMPTY AS WERE THE FUEL FILTER AND CARBURETOR FLOAT CHAMBER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,847 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 5,509 as pilot in command; 2,600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,090 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 24, 1985; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ramp One Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: AL15 Gulf Shores AL at 2:00 pm
- Destination: OPL Opelousas LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.