What happened
On September 12, 2024, at approximately 11:37 CDT, a Hawker Beechcraft G36, registration N643RS, was destroyed in an accident near Lafayette, Louisiana. The aircraft was operating as a Part 91 personal flight.
After departing from runway 4R at Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT), ADS-B data indicated the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 200 feet above ground level (agl) by the end of the runway. The flight path included a slight left turn followed by a right turn. The final recorded altitude was 25 feet agl, with the last recorded position approximately 450 feet from the accident site. The aircraft subsequently impacted a golf course located about 2,000 feet and 15 degrees from the departure end of runway 4R.
Witnesses and airport surveillance video observed thick white smoke trailing from the aircraft during the takeoff roll. The aircraft came to rest on a golf course fairway. The pilot sustained 1 fatal injury.