Cessna U206G accident near Lake Charles, Louisiana, April 1, 1984
On April 1, 1984 at about 11:17 pm local time, a Cessna U206G, registered N7383N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Charles, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. 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
- April 1, 1984 · about 11:17 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206G · all U206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N7383N · no longer on the register · serial U20603644
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT HIT A TREE AND A DITCH DURING A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINEAFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE ROD HAD DISCONNECTED FROM THE THROTTLE CONTROL ARM AT THE BOLT HOLE. THE HOLE HAD WORN THROUGH AND THE ROD HAD VIBRATED LOOSE. THE ACFT HAD A 100 HOUR INSPECTION ONLY 22 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE WORN SURFACES HAD TAKEN LONGER THAN 22 HOURS TO REACH THEIR DEGREE OF WEAR. ALSO, THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD BEEN REPLACED AT 850 HOURS. THE ACFT NOW HAD 1188 HOURS TOTAL TIME. THE C-206 SERVICE MANUAL INDICATES THAT THE ENGINE CONTROLS AND LINKAGE ARE TO BE INSPECTED EVERY 100 HOURS. THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY RUN AFTER INSTALLING A NEW THROTTLE ARM AND REPAIRING IMPACT DAMAGE.
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: 1,242 hours in all; 422 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,188 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 1984; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F-9 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRP Corpus Christi TX at 9:00 pm
- Destination: LFT Lafayette LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; scat at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Observation at 11:17 pm from LCH, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 3 |
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.