Cessna 170B accident near Plain Dealing, Louisiana, May 2, 1982
On May 2, 1982 at about 7:27 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N1960C, was destroyed in an accident near Plain Dealing, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- May 2, 1982 · about 7:27 pm local time
- Place
- Plain Dealing, Louisiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1960C · registry record · serial 26105
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED OVER A RIVER AT LOW ALTITUDE WHEN IT STRUCK A POWERLINE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RECALL ANYTHING ABOUT THE FLIGHT AFTER THE TAKEOFF. THE PASSENGER REPORTED THAT THEY HAD FLOWN TO SPRINGHILL TO OBTAIN 80 OCTANE FUEL, AND WHILE RETURNING, THE PILOT WAS SHOWING HIM SOME SIGHTS. THEY WERE FLYING DOWN THE RIVER WHEN THE PLANE STRUCK THE POWERLINES. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON A SANDBAR. THE PASSENGER RELEASED HIS SEAT BELT AND CRAWLED OUT WITH AN INJURED BACK. HE SAW THE PILOT IN FRONT OF THE PLANE, AND PULLED THE PILOT AWAY FROM THE BURNING WRECKAGE.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,208 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Springhill LA at 1:00 pm
- Destination: Newport LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 171°F (77°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from SHU
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.
Other NTSB records under N1960C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.