- Date
- June 1, 1983, 08:35 local (13:35 UTC)
- Place
- Harvey, LA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N52072Cessna 180J
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830601022029A
- Case key
- 20731
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
A navigable waterway, Harvey canal, was being used as a seaplane base. In that area, a set of power lines were suspended over the canal by 2 tall towers. The lowest line over the canal was 160 ft above the canal surface, but the lines dropped to heights of down to 60 ft over land. The normal procedure for a south takeoff was to fly under the linesafter lift-off or to turn & cross over the lines where they are low to the ground. While taking off, the acft was observed to climb normally to aprx 30 ft AGL, then began to accelerate. Aprx 500 ft north of the power lines, the acft entered an abrupt climb & reportedly went to a near vertical attitude. It then rotated about the left wing & descended vertically into the canal, impacting aprx 100 ft north of the power lines. An exam revealed no evidence of a preimpact malfunction or failure. An investigation revealed that the plt had been giving flt instruction to the passenger. It was not verified who had pulled the acft up, but the plt's normal procedure was to fly under the wires.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N52072
- Reported as
- Cessna 180J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18052480
- Airframe hours
- 4,190
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Harvey Canay Seaplane Service
- Registered owner
- John Ales
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 25, 1983 · 14 hours before
- Destination
- Grand Isle, LA
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 6,112 total · 5,832 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MSY, 10 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.