Accident Details
On April 2, 2025, at 2030 central daylight time, a Cessna 210L airplane, registration N1574P, was destroyed when it impacted a marsh near Raceland, Louisiana. The pilot and a flight instructor on board were fatally injured. The airplane was operated by Southern Seaplane, Inc., under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight.
The operator reported that the pilot had recently accumulated 500 hours of total flight experience. The purpose of the flight was to gain additional night flight experience and to complete an instrument proficiency check administered by the instructor.
Flight History
The intended route was from Southern Seaplane Airport (65LA) in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, to Houma-Terrebonne Airport (HUM) for an instrument approach, then to South Lafourche Leonard Miller Jr. Airport (GAO) for another approach, and finally return to 65LA.
The airplane departed 65LA about 2000 and initially flew west. The flight crew contacted New Orleans Approach control and requested to practice an ILS approach into HUM. Later, they requested an instrument flight rules clearance to penetrate clouds. The controller issued vectors for the ILS runway 18 approach. The crew requested and was granted a climb to 3,000 ft msl to escape turbulence. After being cleared for the approach, the flight acknowledged and switched to the HUM advisory frequency. No further communications were received.
Weather Conditions
Reported weather at HUM near the accident time included wind from 140° at 19 knots gusting to 26 knots, visibility 7 statute miles, overcast ceiling at 1,400 ft, temperature 26°C, dew point 23°C, and altimeter setting 29.89 in-Hg.
Wreckage Examination
The airplane struck a marsh about 7.5 nautical miles north of HUM. Only the left wing was visible above the marsh surface. The wreckage was confined to a small area, and impact signatures indicated a near-vertical collision. Recovery efforts retrieved the left wing, engine, three propeller blades, and all primary airframe structures and flight control surfaces. The instrument panel and firewall were not found.