Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Henderson, Louisiana, December 26, 1982
On December 26, 1982 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N5369T, was destroyed in an accident near Henderson, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- December 26, 1982 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Henderson, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N5369T · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7235227
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE ON A FLIGHT FROM BEAUMONT, TX TO COVINGTON, LA. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT DEPARTED ON A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE. AT THAT TIME, THE WEATHER AT BEAUMONT WAS 300 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 12 MI. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 10 MI NORTHEAST, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS AT 1400 FT MSL. AFTER THAT, NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO PENETRATE A LINE OF HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS NEAR HENDERSON, LA. WHILE IN THAT VICINITY, THE PLANE COLLIDED WITH A LINE OF TREES ABOUT 50 FT AGL, THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND ABOUT 60 FT BEYOND. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION. A WITNESS HEARD THE ENGINE OPERATING BEFORE IMPACT.
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: 125 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,080 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 157 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BPT Beaumont, TX at 9:05 am
- Destination: LA08 Covington LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.