St. Landry Parish-Ahart Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Opelousas, Louisiana 70570
Saturday, July 30, 2011 11:04 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, immediately after retracting the landing gear during the takeoff climb, the engine began running rough. He performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane collided with trees. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no fuel in the fuel pump, and water was found inside the fuel manifold bowl. The water was brown in color, did not smell like aviation fuel, and left a brown stain when it evaporated.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/30/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1104
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Opelousas
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70570
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 303330N
Event Location Longitude 0920558W
Event Location Airport St. Landry Parish-Ahart Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OPL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 75
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 163
Weather Observation Facility ID KLFT
Elevation of weather observation facility 42
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KLFT 011553Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 32/23 A3002
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29303
NTSB Notification Source BTR FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 23 2011 3:25PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N231EH
NTSB Number CEN11LA529
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP.
Aircraft Model M20K
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 25-0179
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 20 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 24
Airframe Hours 3575
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Lloyd Magnuson
Aircraft Owner Street Address Mile 25 Ophir Rd.
Aircraft Owner City Takotna
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99675
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Lloyd Magnuson
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Takotna
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99675
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code OPL
Departure City Opelousas
Departure State LA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ENW
Destination City Kenosha
Destination State WI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 25 2011 5:08PM
User who most recently changed record scoa
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 5999
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --