What happened
On August 30, 1989, at 12:10 CDT, a Piper PA-18-150, registration N4423Z, departed the Nunez, Louisiana, airstrip (L12) for a local flight under 14 CFR Part 91 regulations. The aircraft was being operated as a public aircraft to conduct an aerial survey for the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.
At 12:25 CDT, while operating in visual meteorological conditions, the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot attempted a forced landing approximately 15 miles east-northeast of Grand Chenier, Louisiana. During the landing sequence, the airplane flipped forward into an inverted position.
Despite the substantial damage sustained by the aircraft, both the private pilot and the passenger were not injured.