2 fatalities

1979-03-11: Beechcraft 80 Queen Air (N10QH) — Dale Langley — New Orleans, United States of America

New Orleans, United States of AmericaFlight

On March 11, 1979, a Beechcraft 80 Queen Air (registration N10QH) operated by Dale Langley was involved in an aviation accident near New Orleans, United States of America in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Ditching after the pilot became lost and disoriented. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781225501Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft ditched off New Orleans after the pilot became lost and disoriented, resulting in fuel exhaustion and two fatalities.

Incident Overview

A twin-engine airplane departed Oklahoma City Airport in the late morning for a local check-out flight. During the flight, the pilot became lost and disoriented, causing the aircraft to fly south for several hours. The aircraft eventually ran low on fuel, and the pilot executed a ditching off the coast of New Orleans.

Occupant Injuries

One passenger sustained minor injuries, while two other occupants were killed.

Official Probable Cause

According to the investigation, the probable cause of the accident was ditching after the pilot became lost and disoriented. Contributing factors included improper in-flight decisions, fuel exhaustion, and a ditching site located 835 statute miles from the departure point.