- Date
- April 14, 1996, 14:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place
- Venice, LA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 2 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N734QWCessna U206G
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Not reported
- Status
- Completed · report November 25, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960414007329A
- Case key
- 19805
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions. A factor was the fog.
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
According to a statement given by one passenger to the local sheriff's investigator, the airplane was approximately '300 feet off the ground when whey encountered fog. The pilot made a right turn and began to descend. The airplane impacted the water, and the windshield popped out. The airplane bounced once and came to rest inverted.' The passenger also stated that when they had departed the airport, the weather had been 'crystal clear' and 'no one noticed the fog until they were already in it.' The airplane was not recovered.
Factual narrative
On April 14, 1996, at 1410 central standard time, a Cessna U206G, N734QW, registered to and operated by Signal Air Inc. under Title 14 CFR Part 91, was destroyed following impact with water near Venice, Louisiana. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross country flight and a flight plan was not filed. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries, two passengers were seriously injured, and one passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated from Burrwood, Louisiana, approximately 5 minutes before the accident.
According to a statement given by one passenger to the coroner office's chief investigator, the airplane was approximately "300 feet off the ground when whey encountered fog. The pilot made a right turn and began to descend. The airplane impacted the water, and the windshield popped out. The airplane bounced once and came to rest inverted." The passenger also stated that when they had departed the airport, the weather had been "crystal clear" and "no one noticed the fog until they were already in it." The airplane was not recovered.
Toxicological tests and an autopsy were ordered and performed. The toxicological tests were negative, and the autopsy was performed by the Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office in Gretna, Lousiana.
Attempts to obtain a Pilot/Operator Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) from the operator of the airplane were unsuccessful.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N734QW
- Reported as
- Cessna U206G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- U20604862
- Airframe hours
- 2,185
- Engine
- Continental IO-550-F, 280 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Signal Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- NONE · Burrwood, LA
- Destination
- LA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 875 total · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Not reported
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.