NTSB Factual Report

On November 13, 2016, about 1608 central standard time, a Flight Design CTSW, single-engine airplane, N329CT, was substantially damaged after impacting terrain during an off-airport forced landing near Port Allen, Louisiana. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, a private individual as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had not been filed. At the time of the accident the airplane was departing Omni Airport (LA46), Port Allen, Louisiana for a local flight.

The student pilot reported that he had climbed to about 850 feet above ground level when he had a sudden and complete loss of engine power. He went through the emergency checklist for engine restart, but was not successful. During the forced landing the airplane impacted terrain in a recently harvested sugar cane field and came to rest partially inverted. There was substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The student pilot also reported that he was able to exit the wreckage without assistance. There was adequate fuel on-board, but no fuel spill, and no postimpact fire.

At 1553 the KBTR Automated Surface Observation System at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, about 9 miles east from the accident location, reported wind from 330 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, temperature 17 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 8 degrees C, with an altimeter setting of 30.15 inches of mercury.