Nanchang CJ-6A accident near Shreveport, Louisiana, May 16, 1996
On May 16, 1996 at about 10:22 pm local time, a Nanchang CJ-6A, registered N24AD, was destroyed in an accident near Shreveport, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power due to failure of the pressure carburetor diaphragm which led to restricted fuel flow through the carburetor and eventual fuel starvation. Factors contributing to the accident were the unsuitable terrain and tall trees which resulted in the pilot's inadvertent stall during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1996 · about 10:22 pm local time · cases in 1996
- Place
- Shreveport, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Nanchang CJ-6A · all CJ-6As on the register
- Registration
- N24AD · no longer on the register · serial 3632022
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The single engine tandem airplane departed the airport to join a similar aircraft for a local flight. While maneuvering at an estimated altitude of 1,000 feet, the pilot reported 'going down, engine quit.' The pilot of the other airplane reported that he observed the airplane entering a left turn to try to make a field. The pilot witnessing the accident added that 'the pilot tried to extend his glide, experiencing an accelerated stall. The aircraft impacted the ground wings level in a 20 to 30 degrees nose down attitude, bounced, and caught on fire.' The initial point of impact was approximately 50 feet beyond a line of tall trees. Examination of the carburetor revealed that the throttle plate was found jammed in the full open position and the diaphragm assembly was found to be ruptured and very brittle, giving the appearance of being 'dry-rotten.' Particles of the broken diaphragm were found throughout the carburetor assembly. The airframe and engine logbooks for the airplane were stored in the airplane at the time of the accident and were presumed destroyed. The investigation was unable to establish the date of the last overhaul/repair on the carburetor assembly or when the failed diaphragm was installed.
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 multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,280 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1,080 as pilot in command; 134 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,320 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 4,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Housia HS-6A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DTN at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N24AD: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Nanchang CJ-6 7 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Nanchang 8 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Housia HS-6A · as the NTSB recorded it
- Shreveport Downtown Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Louisiana 1,274 since 1982 · 189 in the last ten years
- Louisiana 3,729 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW96FA216.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.