Piper PA-28-161 accident near Lake Charles, Louisiana, June 6, 1982
On June 6, 1982, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N83006, was destroyed in an accident near Lake Charles, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- June 6, 1982
- Place
- Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N83006 · no longer on the register · serial 28-8116086
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT TOLD THE SURVIVING PAX HE WAS GOING TO MAKE A SHORT FLD TAKEOFF WITH FULL (40 DEG) FLAPS. THE PAX, WHO IS ALSO A PLT, DISAGREED WITH THE PLT. THE PLT SAID IT WOULD BE OKAY & PROCEEDED TO TAKE OFF. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE PAX SUGGESTED HE CHANGE THE FLAP SETTING TO 10 DEG. THE PLT DID NOT CHANGE THE FLAP SETTING. 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY THE PAX SUGGESTED THEY ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE PLT DISAGREED & PULLED THE NOSE UP. THE ACFT FELT MUSHY & THE NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE OBSCURED THE VIEW OF THE UPCOMING TREES. THE ACFT STRUCK A TREE LIMB & CARTWHEELED. WITNESSES REVEALED THE ACFT STARTED ITS TAKEOFF RUN WITH ABOUT 3,000 FT OF USABLE RWY. THE ACFT SETTLED BACK TO THE RWY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNEABOUT 500-800 FT DOWN THE RWY. JUST PRIOR TO REACHING THE END OF THE RWY THE ACFT HAD GAINED ABOUT 6-8 FT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 683 hours in all; 683 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 612 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 692 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lake Charles LA at 7:10 pm
- Destination: Lake Charles LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.