Piper PA-18-150 accident near Ethel, Louisiana, September 13, 1997
On September 13, 1997 at about 7:20 am local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N14255, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ethel, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance. Related factors were the pilot's impairment due to alcohol and night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 1997 · about 7:20 am local time
- Place
- Ethel, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N14255 · registry record · serial 18-7409058
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the night flight, in which the non certificated pilot was maneuvering the aircraft in the vicinity of a friend's residence, the aircraft struck trees and descended uncontrolled to the ground. The Investigator in Charge estimated his flight time at 371 hours. Flight control and engine continuity were confirmed. No evidence of any pre-impact mechanical anomalies were found. Toxicological testing was performed by a medical laboratory, a state crime laboratory, and CAMI. All were positive for alcohol. According to Dr. Canfield, CAMI, 'the 189.00 (mg/dL, mg/hg)(.189%) ethanol detected in blood, 181.000 (mg.dL, mg/hg)(.181%) ethanol detected in vitreous fluid, and 251.000 (mg/dL, mg/hg)(.251%) ethanol detected in urine, indicate recent ingestion of alcohol. In his opinion, these levels of ethanol would cause impairment of the pilot.'
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
- Flight time: 371 hours in all; 371 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,215 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 16, 1996; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Jackson LA at 8:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number FTW97FA345.