Cessna 172K accident near Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, November 13, 2014
On November 13, 2014 at about 2:20 am local time, a 1968 Cessna 172K, registered N46707, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane's collision with water for reasons that could not be determined because the wreckage was not located.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 2014 · about 2:20 am local time
- Place
- Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K, built 1968 · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N46707 · no longer on the register · serial 17257441
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,775 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,299 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: NEW New Orleans LA at 1:15 am
- Destination: NEW New Orleans LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 010° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; ovct at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KNEW, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.