Piper PA-32-260 accident near Belle Chasse, Louisiana, June 26, 1982
On June 26, 1982 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N3446W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belle Chasse, Louisiana (Southern Seaplane airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were 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 26, 1982 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Belle Chasse, Louisiana · Southern Seaplane
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N3446W · no longer on the register · serial 32312
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DEPARTED SOUTHERN SEAPLANE'S LAND RWY 20 & CLIMBED TO APPROXIMATELY 200-300 FT WHERE IT WAS OBSERVED TRAILING WHITE SMOKE. IT TRAVELLED APPROXIMATELY 1.6 MI FROM ITS DEPARTURE POINT & STRUCK A TREE ON THE BANK OF THE ALGIERS OUTFALL CANAL. ENG TEAR DOWN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE #3 CYLINDER SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE #5 CYLINDER & ROD ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND TO HAVE LOOSE CONNECTING ROD CAP NUTS. BOTH #3 & #5 CONRODS & CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED ON 9/29/81. #1, 2, & 4 CYLINDERS HAD SEVERAL DIME TO QUARTER SIZE PIECES OF ALUMINUM ON TOP OF THE PISTON INSIDE THE CYLINDERS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,176 hours in all; 2,176 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 2,047 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,606 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 112 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
- Operator: Sizor Machinery Company
The flight
- Departed from: Belle Chasse LA at 11:25 am
- Destination: Chicago IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 3,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 178°F (81°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from NBG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.