Cessna 182 accident near Chatham, Louisiana, February 6, 2020
On February 6, 2020 at about 8:13 pm local time, a 2006 Cessna 182, registered N60381, was destroyed in an accident during approach (IFR initial approach) near Chatham, Louisiana (Ruston Regional Airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s encounter with icing in-flight, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 6, 2020 · about 8:13 pm local time
- Place
- Chatham, Louisiana · Ruston Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 T, built 2006 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N60381 · no longer on the register · serial 18281833
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instrument-rated pilot was enroute on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan to his planned destination. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed in the area. While flying at 6,000 ft, the pilot informed air traffic control (ATC) that the airplane was picking up ice and asked for a lower altitude. ATC approved a descent to 3,000 ft. The pilot asked ATC if he could divert to a nearby airport to remove ice from the airplane, and ATC cleared the pilot to proceed to the initial approach fix for an instrument approach to the diversion airport. About 4 minutes later, ATC broadcasted a low altitude alert and attempted to advise the pilot that the airplane was at 1,000 ft., and to climb immediately. There was no response from the pilot. Radar data showed the airplane's ground speed slowing and in a rapid descent before radar contact was lost. The airplane impacted the ground in a near vertical attitude. A post-impact fire consumed most of the fuselage, cabin, cockpit, and right wing. No pre-impact anomalies were observed with the airframe, flight controls, and engine. All flight instruments were consumed by the post-impact fire. Propeller blade damage was consistent with rotation at the time of impact. A weather study of the area showed that marginal visual meteorological conditions (MVMC) to IMC prevailed along the airplane’s route and in the immediate vicinity of the accident site. AIRMETs (Airman’s meteorological information) were current for IFR conditions along the route of flight and occasional moderate icing conditions. The conditions were conducive to structural icing. There were several pilot reports of light icing in the accident area before and after the accident occurred. The pilot’s report of icing was consistent with the existing weather conditions. It is unknown whether the pilot obtained a weather briefing before the flight and was aware of the icing conditions. The circumstances of this accident are consistent with a loss of control of the airplane due to in-flight icing.
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
- Loss of control in flight during approach (IFR initial approach) defining event
- Structural icing during approach (IFR initial approach)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to structural icing › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,703 hours in all; 204 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 27, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 2019; 1,772 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 (piston); 1,789 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HKS Jaackson MS at 7:07 pm
- Destination: SHV Shreveport LA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from RSN, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
16 documents, released by the NTSB on April 14, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.