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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 1984 · about 4:35 am local time
- Place
- Lake Charles, Louisiana · Lake Charles
- 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.
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.