Robinson S-12 AIRAILE accident near Sugartown, Louisiana, April 7, 1995
On April 7, 1995 at about 11:27 pm local time, a Robinson S-12 AIRAILE, registered N53CR, was destroyed in an accident near Sugartown, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR REASONS UNDETERMINED. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1995 · about 11:27 pm local time
- Place
- Sugartown, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson S-12 AIRAILE S-12 AIRAI
- Registration
- N53CR · registry record · serial 0292177
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM HIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. HE MADE A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING ON A PRIVATE ROAD. AFTER CHECKING THE ENGINE AND MAKING A FULL POWER STATIC CHECK, THE PILOT TOOK OFF BUT THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER AGAIN. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT HIS AIRSTRIP, BUT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND ENGINE POWER AVAILABLE. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 8 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 23, 1995; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,010 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912-MK-TW (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from POE, 15 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.