Cessna 152 accident near Thibodaux, Louisiana, October 24, 1989
On October 24, 1989 at about 7:18 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4973B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thibodaux, Louisiana (Thibodaux Muni airport). It was an instructional 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
STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN OR MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING AN ABORTED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH. HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT AND THE DITCH WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 1989 · about 7:18 pm local time
- Place
- Thibodaux, Louisiana · Thibodaux Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4973B · no longer on the register · serial 15283733
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A NORMAL LANDING. DURING THE FLARE, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT OF THE CENTERLINE, THE RIGHT WHEEL TOUCHED ON THE RUNWAY, & THE LEFT WHEEL TOUCHED IN THE GRASS. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER FOR A GO-AROUND. WITH THE NOSE HIGH, THE AIRPLANE FLEW 40 TO 50 YARDS AT 6 FEET AGL, THEN IT YAWED TO THE LEFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT WING TOUCHED DOWN, THEN THE AIRPLANE ROTATED TO THE LEFT & WENT THROUGH A DITCH.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 52 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gulf Air Enterprises, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LA37 at 6:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.