# Accident 19970508009679A: Cessna 172RG, Abbeyville, LA, May 8, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 8, 1997, 16:30 local time
- Place: Abbeyville, LA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.9696° N, 92.1195° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9696&lon=-92.1195&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6505V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6505V-1997-11-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172RG (registry code 2072438, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97FA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97FA181) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970508009679A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT ON A FISH SPOTTING FLIGHT, CRASHED. (-23) MR. GARY WILKINS DEPARTED ABBEVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 1610 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME AND REPORTED VISUAL CHECK POINT "GHOST TOWN" AT APPROXIMATELY 1615. HE WAS CRUISING AT 1000 AGL, 126 KTS, AND HEADED DUE SOUTH. AT APPROXIMATELY 1630, HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS FEELING ILL. AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME, HIS SUPERVISOR RADIOED BACK TO MR. WILKINS, ASKING HIM IF HE WAS OKAY. THERE WAS NO REPLY. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS WERE MADE, TRYING TO CONTACT MR. WILKINS, WITH NO SUCCESS. AT APPROXIMATELY 1645, ANOTHER PILOT SPOTTED AN OIL SLICK AND DEBRIS ON THE WATER APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MILES SOUTH OF INTERCOASTAL CITY, LOUISIANA. AT APPROXIMATELY 1710, BOATS ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND BEGAN RETRIEVING THE WRECKAGE OF AIRCRAFT N6505V. THE BODY OF MR. WILKINS WAS LOCATED OFF THE COAST OF CAMERON PARISH AT APPROXIMATELY 1600, MAY 11, 1997. THE AIRCRAFT, ENGINE, AND PILOT LOGBOOKS WERE LOST DURING THE ACCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW97FA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97FA181), May 8, 1997: Cessna 172RG (N6505V), Intracoastal, LA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's decision to fly, when he was not in good physical condition; and his subsequent loss of aircraft control due to incapacitation. A related factor was: the pilot's perception of an urgency…

## Other reports on N6505V (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19870905076109I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870905076109I), Sep 5, 1987: Cessna 172RG (N6505V), Dallas, TX, Minor damage. Landed with gear up. Had electrical problems. No audible or visual warnings about gear. Tower used light gun.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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