Cessna 182T N577TZ accident near Grand Isle, Louisiana

Probable cause

The pilot’s operation of the airplane while intoxicated, resulting in its impact with the ocean.

NTSB analysis

Company information and ADS-B data indicated that the pilot performed several low-level flight maneuvers for about 3 hours that were consistent with aerial observation for fish spotting activities. A boat captain, who was in communication with the accident pilot regarding the fish spotting plans for the day, stated the pilot seemed upset, agitated, and discouraged during his radio communications, which he stated was abnormal for the pilot. Due to his concerns about the pilot’s attitude, the boat captain told the pilot to land and take a break. The pilot stated he was going to fly to the north, and there were no further communications with the pilot.

The last ADS-B contact showed the airplane about 1.8 miles offshore on a southwest heading about 175 ft above the ocean water. There were no emergency or distress calls received from the accident airplane. Company personnel notified the US Coast Guard about a missing airplane and a search was initiated. The pilot’s body was located the following morning near a coastline, and about 1 week later the airplane was located by a fishing vessel and subsequently recovered.

Damage to the airplane structure was consistent with the airplane impacting the water in an upright, slight nose-down attitude at a relatively slow airspeed. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Toxicological testing detected ethanol in all of the multiple tested postmortem specimens of the pilot. Although some of the detected ethanol may have been from sources other than alcohol consumption, based on the pattern of ethanol results and the pilot’s witnessed behavior, the pilot had likely consumed alcohol and was impaired by the effects of alcohol at the time of the accident. The pilot’s impairment due to the effects of alcohol likely precluded his ability to safely operate the airplane.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN23FA201 for the full record.