Beech A36 accident near Lake Charles, Louisiana, December 24, 1984
On December 24, 1984 at about 4:35 am local time, a Beech A36, registered N2049G, was destroyed in an accident near Lake Charles, Louisiana (Lake Charles airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 1984 · about 4:35 am local time · cases in 1984
- Place
- Lake Charles, Louisiana · Lake Charles · cases near this airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech A36 · all A36s on the register
- Registration
- N2049G · no longer on the register · serial E-1406
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED 3 MILES SHORT OF THE LAKE CHARLES AIRPORT WHILE ON AN ILS APPROACH. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED BY THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT. A REVIEW OF THE RADIO TRANSCRIPTS INVOLVING N2049G AND APPROACH CONTROL REVEALED CONFUSION ON THE PART OF THE PLT CONCERNING INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PROCEDURES.
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: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTR at 3:11 am
- Destination: 6R1 Welsh LA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 am from LCH, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2049G: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Beechcraft A36 Bonanza 2,530 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB 44 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Lake Charles Regional · nearest airport
- Baton Rouge Metro, Ryan Field · departed from
- Welsh Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Louisiana 1,274 since 1982 · 189 in the last ten years
- Louisiana 3,729 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW85FA084.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.