Cessna 152 accident near New Roades, Louisiana, August 1, 1990
On August 1, 1990 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N64984, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Roades, Louisiana. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNKNOWN MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN ENGINE OIL STARVATION. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS ROUGH TERRAIN IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS MADE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1990 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- New Roades, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N64984 · no longer on the register · serial 15281511
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SUFFERED A SUDDEN LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, AND DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER TO THE INVERTED POSITION. AS THE OIL PRESSURE WAS DROPPING, SO WAS THE ENGINE RPM. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE OIL IN THE SYSTEM AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND THE OIL HAD BEEN BLOWING OUT THE ENGINE BREATHER SYSTEM. THE OPERATOR SAID THAT AFTER THE WRECKAGE HAD BEEN RECOVERED, THEY HAD BLOCKED OFF THE ENGINE BREATHER SYSTEM AND THEN HAD PRESSURIZED IT TO 15 PSI, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING MECHANICAL THAT MIGHT HAVE PRESSURIZED THE CRANKCASE IN FLIGHT.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 380 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 1990; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTR Baton Rouge LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.