Piper PA-28-140 accident near Rayne, Louisiana, February 13, 1990
On February 13, 1990 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1785T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rayne, Louisiana. It was an aerial observation 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
FAILURE OF THE #3 EXHAUST VALVE, WHICH NECESSITATED A FORCED LANDING ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 1990 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rayne, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1785T · no longer on the register · serial 28-7125100
- 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 DAMAGED, WHEN IT STRUCK A DIKE AND THE GROUND DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A POWER LOSS. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 500 FEET ON A PIPELINE PATROL FLIGHT, THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH & THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT SUSTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE THE FORCED LANDING IN A RICE FIELD. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE #3 EXHAUST VALVE HAD FAILED AND WAS INGESTED, CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE PISTON AND CYLINDER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE VALVE WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,547 hours in all; 1,253 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 2,320 as pilot in command; 70 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,338 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 827 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Prairieville LA at 3:15 pm
- Destination: Mount Belvieu LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 19 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from LFT, 8 miles away
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.