Piper PA-28-180 accident near New Orleans, Louisiana, November 26, 1992
On November 26, 1992 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N15813, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Orleans, Louisiana. It was a personal 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS WERE THE INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 26, 1992 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- New Orleans, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N15813 · no longer on the register · serial 28 7305153
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING CRUISE OPERATIONS. THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN FOR FIVE HOURS AND 50 MINUTES AT THE TIME OF LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. DURING THE LANDING TO A CURVED ROAD THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A ROAD SIGN AND A FENCE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED NO FUEL SPILLAGE. DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE ONLY TRACES OF FUEL WERE FOUND IN THE RIGHT WING AND THE LEFT WING CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY A HALF A PINT OF 100LL FUEL.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 249 hours in all; 147 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 199 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,947 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 29, 1992; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A48 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRG Jacksonville FL at 10:55 am
- Destination: NEW New Orleans LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:12 pm from NEW, 10 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.