Cessna T182 accident near Houma, Louisiana, October 16, 2020
On October 16, 2020 at about 4:13 pm local time, a 2007 Cessna T182, registered N707DA, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Houma, Louisiana. It was a personal 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
Impact with terrain for reasons that could not be determined with the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 2020 · about 4:13 pm local time
- Place
- Houma, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T182 T, built 2007 · all T182s on the register
- Registration
- N707DA · registry record · serial T18208771
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a cross-country flight with one passenger on board. Air traffic control and automatic dependent surveillance broadcast data indicated that the airplane departed and flew a northwest heading and climbed through 1,500 ft mean sea level (msl). The airplane turned left to a southeast heading and continued to climb through 1,700 ft before it started to descend. The last recorded location was about 1.86 miles from the accident site at an altitude of about 825 ft msl. The airplane impacted marshy terrain about 7 miles southwest of the departure airport. Ground scars at the accident site illustrated a straight path and were consistent with wings-level attitude at the time of impact. The ground scar continued for about 40 yards from the initial impact point towards and through a line of trees. The main wreckage came to rest on the opposite side of the trees and included the empennage, fuselage, and both wings. Damage to the airplane was consistent with a high energy impact. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Investigators were unable to determine the reason for the descent into terrain with the available information.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during enroute (descent)
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AK1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KHUM Houma LA at 4:09 pm
- Destination: 11R Brenham TX
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 13 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 am from KHUM, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KHUM 161550Z 03013G22KT 7SM SCT022 21/16 A3019
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN21LA018.