Piper PA-25-235 accident near Bogalusa, Louisiana, January 16, 1989
On January 16, 1989 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N8782L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bogalusa, Louisiana. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE LAST TAKEOFF RESULTING IN AN INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY FOR THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 1989 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bogalusa, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8782L · no longer on the register · serial 25-5470
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE QUIT APPROXIMATELY FOUR MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, AND THE AIRPLANE HIT THE TOPS OF TREES THEN THE GROUND DURING THE FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT HAD STOPPED AT TWO AIRPORTS WHERE HE WAS UNABLE TO GET FUEL. HE SAID HE SAW ENOUGH FUEL IN THE TANK TO RUN THE ENGINE FOR FROM 45 MINUTES TO AN HOURS, AND THE GAUGE INDICATED 12 TO 13 GALLONS BEFORE TAKEOFF. THE ENGINE WAS INSTALLED IN ANOTHER AIRFRAME AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND IT STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,910 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 1989; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: OR9 Hammond LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.