Accident Overview
Shortly after departing from Lafayette Regional Airport during nighttime, the aircraft began climbing but subsequently lost height. It struck trees and came to rest in a swamp. The accident resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and the deaths of both occupants. At the time, weather conditions were reported as marginal, with fog present.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the probable cause was a collision with trees during the initial climb, attributed to inadequate preflight preparation. Several contributing factors were identified: the flight was initiated in adverse weather conditions; there was improper operation of the flight controls; the aircraft was improperly loaded with its center of gravity affected; cargo shifted during flight; the aircraft came to rest in water; fog was present; the aircraft entered an unknown thin layer of fog; and the pilot did not update weather information.
Contributing Factors
Investigators listed multiple contributing factors that played a role in the crash. These include the decision to take off in adverse weather, improper handling of flight controls, incorrect loading leading to a center-of-gravity issue, shifting cargo, the presence of fog and entry into an unexpected thin fog layer, and failure to obtain updated weather data. The aircraft's final resting place in water was also noted.