The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB FTW84LA312 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Lake Charles, Louisiana, July 15, 1984

On July 15, 1984 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N1456X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Charles, Louisiana (Chloe airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. 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
July 15, 1984 · about 3:30 pm local time
Place
Lake Charles, Louisiana · Chloe · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
Registration
N1456X · registry record · serial PA-28R-200
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PLT LANDED ON THE EDGE OF A 90 FT WIDE TURF RWY WHICH WAS SOFT DUE TO RECENT RAINS. THE ACFT DRIFTED OFF INTO A DITCH CAUSING THE COLLAPSE OF THE LEFT MAIN GEAR.

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: 196 hours in all; 196 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 143 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 840 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 1983; 100 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Lycoming IO-260-C1C (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: E29 Sonora TX at 12:10 pm
  • Destination: LA21 Lake Charles LA
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 15, 3,300 ft by 90 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
  • Visibility: 12 statute miles
  • Sky: scat at 2,300 ft
  • Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
  • Observation at 3:49 pm from LCH, 7 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers3

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.