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NTSB Report
January 13, 1986 · Piper PA-28-140 · N5655U
Deville, LA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 13, 1986
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Deville, LA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-140
Tail Number
N5655U
Operator
Donald J Laborde
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW86FA034
THE STUDENT PLT HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN THIS ACFT IN FLT TRAINING. HOWEVER, THE INSURANCE FOR THE ACFT HAD LAPSED & THE OWNER HAD SECURED THE ACFT TO A TIE-DOWN WITH A CHAIN & PAD LOCK TO PREVENT IT FROM BEING FLOWN. AFTER THE CHAIN WAS CUT WITH A HACK SAW, THE STUDENT FLEW IT ON AN UNAUTHORIZED FLT. DURING THE FLT, HE FLEW OVER & CIRCLED THE HOMES OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT RELATIVES. WHILE THE PLT WAS MAKING A 2ND CIRCLE AROUND THE HOME OF A SISTER, THE LEFT WING OF THE ACFT CONTACTED THE TOP OF A LARGE TREE. THE ACFT THEN CRASHED INTO ANOTHER TREE & LODGED ABOUT 20 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE STUDENT PLT'S ENDORSEMENT FOR SOLO FLT HAD EXPIRED 17 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS FLT. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS SHOWED THAT HIS BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 162 MG% (0.162%) & HIS URINE/ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 212 MG% (0.212%).
Full Narrative
THE STUDENT PLT HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN THIS ACFT IN FLT TRAINING. HOWEVER, THE INSURANCE FOR THE ACFT HAD LAPSED & THE OWNER HAD SECURED THE ACFT TO A TIE-DOWN WITH A CHAIN & PAD LOCK TO PREVENT IT FROM BEING FLOWN. AFTER THE CHAIN WAS CUT WITH A HACK SAW, THE STUDENT FLEW IT ON AN UNAUTHORIZED FLT. DURING THE FLT, HE FLEW OVER & CIRCLED THE HOMES OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT RELATIVES. WHILE THE PLT WAS MAKING A 2ND CIRCLE AROUND THE HOME OF A SISTER, THE LEFT WING OF THE ACFT CONTACTED THE TOP OF A LARGE TREE. THE ACFT THEN CRASHED INTO ANOTHER TREE & LODGED ABOUT 20 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE STUDENT PLT'S ENDORSEMENT FOR SOLO FLT HAD EXPIRED 17 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS FLT. TOXICOLOGY CHECKS SHOWED THAT HIS BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 162 MG% (0.162%) & HIS URINE/ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 212 MG% (0.212%).
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:35 CST
Nearest Airport8nm ESE
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-28-140
Tail NumberN5655U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorDonald J Laborde
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E3D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 41 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind330° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 19 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time22:56
Weather SourceWFAC