Cessna 172 accident near Port Allen, Louisiana, November 20, 1989
On November 20, 1989 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N13055, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Allen, Louisiana. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION DUE TO INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE/SERVICE OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 1989 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Port Allen, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N13055 · no longer on the register · serial 17262462
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING USED FOR PIPELINE PATROL. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH TWICE AND TWICE THE COMMERCIAL PILOT MADE OFF AIRPORT LANDINGS TO DRAIN THE SUMPS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. SHORTLY AFTER THE NEXT TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT HAD TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN A ROUGH SUGAR-CANE FIELD. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR THREE YEARS. THE MAINENANCE PERSONNEL THAT RETURNED THE AIRPLANE TO SERVICE, STATED THEY HAD USED THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL TO REMOVE THE AIRPLANE FROM STORAGE, AND BACK TO SERVICE. INVESTIGATION INDICATED ALL PARTS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WERE COVERED WITH A RUST COLORED, VARNISH LIKE SUBSTANCE.
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
- Flight time: 6,859 hours in all; 4,500 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 6,729 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Gonzales LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°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.