What happened
A flight intended to transport a passenger to Houston, Texas, for a medical appointment ended in a fatal accident near the Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport (PTN) in Patterson, Louisiana. The flight originated from Gonzales Regional Airport (REG) in Louisiana, arriving at PTN at 15:11. After the passenger boarded the aircraft, the pilot was observed performing a brief inspection of the left side of the plane before taxiing toward runway 24.
Following the pilot's departure announcement on the common traffic advisory frequency, the aircraft began its takeoff roll. Surveillance footage captured the aircraft in an extreme, nose-low attitude, rolling through an inverted position before striking a field located near the end of the runway. An eyewitness near a western intersection reported seeing the plane tilt to the left and roll onto its side before entering a steep nosedive. The impact was followed by an explosion and a significant fire that consumed the wreckage.
There were no reports of engine irregularities or visible smoke prior to the impact. The aircraft was completely destroyed by the post-crash fire, and both occupants were killed.