Lockheed PV-2 accident near Lafayette, Louisiana, September 30, 1994
On September 30, 1994 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Lockheed PV-2, registered N6857C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lafayette, Louisiana (Lafayette Regional airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT GEAR RETRACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 1994 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Lafayette, Louisiana · Lafayette Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lockheed PV-2 · all PV-2s on the register
- Registration
- N6857C · no longer on the register · serial 15-1216
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RIGHT SEAT PILOT WAS INSTRUCTING THE PILOT IN THE LEFT SEAT FOR A TYPE RATING IN THE AIRPLANE. AFTER THE SECOND LANDING, THE PIC IN THE RIGHT SEAT WAS CONFIGURING THE AIRPLANE FOR TAKEOFF AND INADVERTENTLY PULLED THE GEAR HANDLE UP INSTEAD OF THE FLAPS. THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED THAT THE TWO HANDLES 'ARE IDENTICAL IN SIZE, SHAPE, AND COLOR. THEY ARE LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO ONE ANOTHER.'
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, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 19,500 as pilot in command; 3,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,355 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 10, 1994; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 33,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-2800-31 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Combat Air Museum
The flight
- Departed from: LFT at 2:53 pm
- Destination: LFT LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4R, 7,650 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:57 pm from LFT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.