Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172K near Lake Pontchartrain, LA — 2014-11-13

Final reportCEN15FAMS1
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Date
2014-11-13
Location
Lake Pontchartrain, LA, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA 172K
Registration
N46707
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The airplane's collision with water for reasons that could not be determined because the wreckage was not located.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor and commercial pilot departed their home airport for a local, night instructional flight. Shortly after departure, the pilot contacted an air traffic controller and stated that he needed to return to the airport; he did not specify why. The pilot made no further communications. A search was initiated, and, several days after the accident, the two pilots' bodies were located in a lake; the airplane was not located. The reason for the airplane's collision with the water could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
VFR into IMC
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the flight after requesting a return to the airport.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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