Piper PA-28-140 accident near Folsom, Louisiana, May 26, 1991
On May 26, 1991 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N6181W, was destroyed in an accident near Folsom, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN PERFORMING THE BUZZING MANEUVER AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1991 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Folsom, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N6181W · no longer on the register · serial 28-20204
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT HAD NOTIFIED HIS BROTHER TO PHOTOGRAPH THE LOW ALTITUDE MANEUVERS OVER HIS RESIDENCE. MULTIPLE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO BE OPERATING AT A LOW ALTITUDE ESTIMATED TO BE 40 TO 100 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. ON A RIGHT TURN BACK TO THE BROTHER'S LOCATION CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE, WHICH WAS BANKED IN EXCESS OF 45 DEGREES, STALLED, ROLLED RIGHT TO AN INVERTED POSITION, AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN AN 80 DEGREE NOSE LOW ATTITUDE.
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: student
- Flight time: 30 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,552 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 1991; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0R9 Hammond LA at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from NEW, 37 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.