Partenavia P68C accident near Goudeau, Louisiana, May 1, 1986
On May 1, 1986 at about 1:20 pm local time, a Partenavia P68C, registered N3832E, was destroyed in an accident near Goudeau, Louisiana. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- May 1, 1986 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Goudeau, Louisiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Partenavia P68C
- Registration
- N3832E · no longer on the register · serial 270
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING INDICATING IMC CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE POINT OF DEPARTURE AND AT REPORTING STATIONS NEAR THE POINT OF THE FIRST INTENDED LANDING. (THERE WAS NO REPORTING STATIONS AT THE AIRPORT OF INTENDED LANDING). WEATHER CONDITIONS CHANGED TO VMC AT THE DEPARTURE POINT AND THE PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF ON A SPECIAL VFR DEPARTURE. THE PILOT CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT FOR ABOUT 55 STATUTE MILES AND COLLIDED WITH A 500 FOOT RADIO ANTENNA AT A POINT ABOUT 350 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE ANTENNA WAS ON A DIRECT LINE BETWEEN THE POINTS OF DEPARTURE AND INTENDED LANDING. THE PILOT REPORTEDLY WAS NAVIGATING BY LORAN RADIO. WITNESSES REPORTED THE UPPER HALF OF THE IMPACTED ANTENNA WAS OBSCURED BY FOG WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. WITNESSES REPORTED THE VISIBILITY TO BE ABOUT ONE MILE.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 24, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTR Baton Rouge LA at 12:52 pm
- Destination: 2R6 Bunkie LA
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:48 pm from ESF, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.