Piper PA-36-375 accident near Wildsville, Louisiana, June 21, 1982
On June 21, 1982 at about 5:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-36-375, registered N90297, was destroyed in an accident near Wildsville, Louisiana. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. 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 21, 1982 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Wildsville, Louisiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-36-375 · all PA-36-375s on the register
- Registration
- N90297 · no longer on the register · serial 36-7802053
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON A LOCAL FLIGHT TO SPRAY A BEAN FIELD. ABOUT 1000 FT FROM THE END OF THE FIELD WAS A 300 FT RADIO TOWER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO CIRCLE THE BEAN FIELD AND CIRCLE THE RADIO TOWER TWICE. DURING A PROCEDURE TURN, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TOWER AND CRASHED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,410 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 214 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Catahoula Aerial Sv., INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LA18 Jonesville LA at 11:30 am
- Destination: LA18 Jonesville LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 176°F (80°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.