GRAND CHENIER, LA, USA
N8621Z
CESSNA P206C
THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE MARSHY TERRAIN WHILE IN A VERY SHALLOW DESCENT AND WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE AND AT A RELATIVELY HIGH SPEED (I.E.,CRUISE). IT THEN CARTWHEELED AND SLID TO A STOP. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF SUBSTANTIAL ENGINE POWER BEING DEVELOPED AT IMPACT. EXTENDED RANGE FUEL TANKS HAD BEEN ADDED TO THE WING TIPS ALONG WITH AN IN-CABIN TANK FOR AN EXTRA FUEL CAPACITY OF 75-80 GALLONS. ALL TANKS APPARENTLY HAD BEEN FILLED. THE POINTS OF DEPARTURE AND INTENDED LANDING ALONG WITH THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, ARE UNKNOWN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED WITH CONTRABAND CARGO. THE AUTOPILOT 'ALTITUDE HOLD' WAS ENGAGED. NO RADAR TRACK OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND, PROBABLY DUE TO LOW ALTITUDE FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT MOST PROBABLY DESCENDED DUE TO A BAROMETRIC PRESSURE CHANGE WHILE THE PILOT WAS ASLEEP OR INATTENTIVE AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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