Cessna 172N accident near Vick, Louisiana, September 5, 1986
On September 5, 1986 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N737XJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vick, Louisiana (Dave Gelpits Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- September 5, 1986 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Vick, Louisiana · Dave Gelpits Airstrip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N737XJ · no longer on the register · serial 17269752
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS GIVEN INCORRECT INFORMATION AS TO THE LOCATION OF HIS DESTINATION AIRSTRIP. HOWEVER, HE FOUND AN AIRSTRIP AT THAT APPROXIMATE LOCATION. IT WAS A 2500 FOOT GRASS STRIP AS OPPOSED TO THE 3600 FOOT GRASS STRIP WHICH HE WAS EXPECTING. WHILE ON THE FINAL APPROACH HE REALIZED THIS WAS NOT THE CORRECT AIRSTRIP AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A GO-AROUND. HE WAS UNABLE TO RETRACT THE FLAPS SOON ENOUGH TO CLIMB OVER THE 60 FOOT POWERLINES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. HE TURNED TO AVOID COLLISION WITH THE WIRES AND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO STALL. THE AIRCRAFT MUSHED INTO A COTTON FIELD AND FLIPPED INVERTED UPON TOUCHDOWN.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 501 hours in all; 461 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 395 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,330 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 15, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NEW New Orleans LA at 8:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.