Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Alexandria, Louisiana, August 17, 1982
On August 17, 1982 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N7744C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alexandria, Louisiana. It was an instructional 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
- August 17, 1982 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Alexandria, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N7744C · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7680061
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO PREPARE THE PILOT IN THE LEFT SEAT FOR A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT RATING. AFTER A POWER-OFF DESCENT FROM 4000 FT TO 2000 FT, THE INSTRUCTOR GAVE THE STUDENT A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING. REPORTEDLY, THE THROTTLE WAS OPENED BRIEFLY AT 1000 FT AND AGAIN AT ABOUT 500 FT TO CLEAR THE ENGINE. THE SIMULATED FORCED LANDING WAS CONTINUED UNTIL ABOUT 100 FT AGL. AT THAT POINT, THE THROTTLE WAS ADVANCED, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE ENGINE. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (IP) TOOK CONTROL AT ABOUT 50 FT AGL AND HE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE ENGINE TO RESPOND. THE IP STATED THAT THE GEAR WAS DOWN AND HE DECIDED TO SKID THE AIRCRAFT SIDEWAYS INTO THE PLOWED FIELD TO COLLAPSE THE GEAR. BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REGAIN POWER DURING TOUCHDOWN, BUT STOPPED IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE PROPELLER CONTACTED THE GROUND. NO PREIMPACT FAILURE WAS FOUND.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,827 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 1,688 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,816 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Baker Manufacturing Company, I
The flight
- Departed from: Alexandria LA at 10:30 am
- Destination: Alexandria LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 22,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.