Cessna 172N accident near Bastrop, Louisiana, March 10, 1990
On March 10, 1990 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N3530E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bastrop, Louisiana (Moorehouse Memorial airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED FOR A GO-AROUND, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION AND TURBULENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 1990 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bastrop, Louisiana · Moorehouse Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N3530E · no longer on the register · serial 17271574
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE HAD ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TURBULENCE WITH SOME WINDSHEAR ON THE FIRST APPROACH FOR A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING. HE SAID THAT ON THE SECOND APPROACH, WINDSHEAR WAS ENCOUNTERED AGAIN, THE AIRSPEED DROPPED, AND THE STALL WARNING HORN ACTIVATED. HE APPLIED FULL POWER, INITIATED A CLIMB, AND BEGAN A SLIGHT LEFT TURN, THEN THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND CONTACTED THE GROUND BEFORE RECOVERY. AFTER HE AND THE PASSENGER EGRESSED FROM THE AIRPLANE, IT BEGAN BURNING AND WAS DEMOLISHED BY FIRE. ABOUT 18 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST AT MONROE, LOUISIANA, THE WIND WAS FROM 190 DEGREES AT 14 KNOTS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 498 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 445 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,753 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 1990; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 2F8 Bastrop LA at 7:34 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from MLU, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.