Piper PA-J3C-65 accident near Mer Rouge, Louisiana, November 24, 1990
On November 24, 1990 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-J3C-65, registered N6100H, was destroyed in an accident near Mer Rouge, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INADVERTENT STALL AT AN ALTITUDE TOO LOW TO ALLOW FOR RECOVERY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 1990 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mer Rouge, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-J3C-65
- Registration
- N6100H · registry record · serial 19258
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE SUCCESSFULLY TAKEOFF FROM THE 2,600 FOOT LONG STRIP AND VERY SHORTLY THEREAFTER ENTER A STEEP CLIMB. THE AIRPLANE THEN WENT INTO WHAT WITNESSES DESCRIBED AS A WINGOVER TYPE MANEUVER, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY GROUND INPACT IN A NEAR VERTICAL DIVE. TOTAL FLIGHT TIME WAS ESTIMATED AT 2-3 MINUTES. THE FRONT SET OCCUPANT WAS A STUDENT PILOT WITH ABOUT 141 HOURS, 80 OF WHICH WERE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL, WHO HAD SOLOED IN THE AIRPLANE JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE REAR SEAT OCCUPANT WAS A COMMERCIAL PILOT WITH AN EXPIRED MEDICAL CERTIFICATE. HE WAS ALSO A PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE AIRPLANE AND HAD LOGGED MOST OF HIS FLIGHT TIME IN THAT AIRPLANE. IT IS UNKNOWN WHICH PERSON WAS MANIPULATING THE CONTROLS AT THE TIME OF THE LOSS OF CONTROL OR IMPACT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 190 in this make and model; 350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 pm from MLU, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.