Cessna 172P accident near Chandeleur Isla, Louisiana, May 12, 1982
On May 12, 1982 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N52049, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chandeleur Isla, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 1982 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chandeleur Isla, Louisiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N52049 · registry record · serial 17274400
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A LOCAL PHOTO AND SIGHT-SEEING FLIGHT, THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON CHANDELEUR ISLAND. AFTER LANDING, HE PREPARED TO DEPART, USING THE RECOMMENDED SOFT FIELD TECHNIQUE. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THERE WAS A STRONG CROSSWIND WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO DRIFT INTO SOFTER SAND. ROLLING TO A STOP, THE NOSE GEAR DUG INTO THE SAND AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 624 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days; 502 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 657 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-02J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: New Orleans Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NEW New Orleans, La at 11:00 am
- Destination: NEW New Orleans, La
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 176°F (80°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.