Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Cessna U206F Stationair 6, N5364Q: Fatal accident occurred August 18, 2019 in Hopedale, Saint Bernard Parish, Louisiana

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Location: Hopedale, LA
Accident Number: CEN19FA271
Date & Time: 08/18/2019, 1330 CDT
Registration: N5364Q
Aircraft: Cessna U206
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 2 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On August 18, 2019, about 1330 central daylight time, a Cessna 206 float equipped airplane, N5364Q, registered to Ultralight Flights LLC of Barataria, Louisiana, was destroyed when it impacted the water in the Chandeleur Sound, about 19 miles west of Hopedale, Louisiana. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries and 2 passengers sustained serious injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated about 1300 from a small island in the northern part of Chandeleur Sound, about 27 miles northwest of the accident site.

On the morning of the accident, the airplane departed from Barataria, Louisiana, about 0600, for a fishing location in the northern part of Chandeluer Sound. The fishing location was located about 29.946505 N -88.845796 W. There was another float airplane from Barataria (N7896S) at the same location. After a morning of fishing, the pilot's of both airplanes started to prepare for a return to Barataria. According to the pilot of N7896S, the weather was starting to deteriorate with heavy rain. Both pilots waited about 45 minutes to an hour for the weather to get better. After seeing a break in the weather, the accident airplane (N5364Q) took off about 1300, heading about 240-degrees. N7896S followed about 2-miles behind and was in radio contact with the pilot of N5364Q. The pilot of N7896S encountered heavy rain and lost sight of N5364Q. At this point, the pilot of N7896S lost radio contact with N5364Q.

Upon returning to Barataria, the pilot of N7896S contacted authorities and a search began for N5364Q. The Coast Guard searched the area and found the pilot and 2 passengers of N5364Q. The pilot did not survive and the 2 passengers were transported to a hospital.

Preliminary satellite and base reflectivity data showed a thunderstorm cell in the immediate vicinity of the approximate accident site at 1330. The estimated flight path of the accident airplane was within a few miles of the thunderstorm cell. The surviving passengers both stated that the airplane was flying beneath low clouds before it impacted the water. Severe weather for several days after the accident precluded immediate recovery of the airplane wreckage. After the weather cleared, a 4-day sonar search for the airplane wreckage was conducted encompassing 82 square miles around the accident area. The wreckage was not located.


Figure 1 Approximate Flight Path.

Figure 2. Satellite Image of Cloud Cover over the Accident Area. 


Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N5364Q
Model/Series: U206 F
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Ultra Light Flights LLC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Unknown
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / , Variable
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 500 ft agl
Visibility:
Altimeter Setting:
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: N Chandeleur, KY
Destination: Barataria, LA

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 2 Serious
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal, 2 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 29.816944, -89.276389 (est)

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.


Theophile Jean Antoine Bourgeois III
1964 - 2019

Cajun renaissance man, Theophile Jean Antoine Bourgeois III, left this world on August 18, 2019 doing what he loved in his Seaplane in a tragic incident. He took his Captain's oath to the grave, ensuring the safety of his two passengers over his own in one last act of nobility. Born July 10,1964 to Theophile Bourgeois Jr and Helen Sievers Bourgeois. 

Theophile was a man who mastered everything he touched, his hands and mind knew no limits. An avid fisherman and outdoorsman, master carpenter, cunning businessman and entrepreneur, Inventor, and larger than life television personality; Bourgeois was a patient father and grandfather who always took the time to teach his son, and grandsons everything he knew and was always eager to share his knowledge with anyone willing to listen. He built his sport fishing empire Bourgeois Fishing Charters from the ground up and set the standard for those to follow. 

Always re-inventing himself and his business strategies, Bourgeois was in a constant state of self improvement and was always eager to help everyone around him with a smile. Anyone who knew him, knew of his sincerity and compassion. A man whose work ethic was only rivaled by his humor and kindness; anyone who crossed paths with Theophile, was forever left with a story that they were eager to share. He is survived by his mother Helen Bourgeois, son Theophile Bourgeois IV, sister Lisa Smith (Chris), grandsons Theophile V and Jameson Bourgeois, his beloved soul mate Ginger Jenné and her three sons, Derek ""Coon dog"" Billiot, Arec and Alec Prestenbach as well as many, many loved ones. Predeceased by his father, Theophile Bourgeois Jr. and his brother, Donald Bourgeois. Uncle of Samantha, Nathaniel, Shawn, Mandy, and Lorie. Family, friends, and others whose lives Theophile touched are invited to the Jean Lafitte Auditorium at 4953 City Park Drive, Lafitte, LA 70067 on Monday August 26th, 2019 from 8 am - 12:30 pm for a celebration of his life, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Anthony Catholic Church at 1:00 pm. Interment will be in Our Lady of Prompt Succor Cemetery. Express condolences at www.westsideleitzeagan.com.

Theophile Jean Antoine Bourgeois III








HOPEDALE, Louisiana (WVUE) - Well-known fisherman and charter captain Theophile Bourgeois died after his seaplane crashed near Chandeleur Sound Sunday afternoon (August 18th). Two other people were on board when the charter plane went down and all three were rushed to University Medical Center.

Bourgeois was pronounced dead, but the condition of the other two victims was not known Sunday night.

As many of their friends and family were at UMC Sunday night, anxiously awaiting word, those who knew Bourgeois said they are struggling to cope with his death.

A representative with the Coast Guard said Bourgeois’s Barataria charter company lost contact with his plane at around 3 p.m. Rescue crews were alerted to a potential problem and were dispatched to the plane’s last known location in Chandeleur Sound.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries assisted with the search and said the two passengers were found first -- one conscious and the other not -- and rushed them to the hospital. By 7 p.m., the Coast Guard confirmed the third person had also been found and was also being taken to UMC.

However, a short time later the Coast Guard confirmed Bourgeois had not survived.

He was well known among fellow fishermen and charter captains, with years in the seaplane industry. Like others in the business, Bourgeois took folks fishing in the Barrier Islands. According to CT William’s -- Bourgeois friend, fellow charter boat captain, and FOX 8 Big Fish reporter -- Bourgeois took the charter fishing industry to a whole new level after the oil spill.

Bourgeois took customers fishing almost every day, Williams said, and offered them adventure, as well as the opportunity to catch possibly the biggest fish of their lives.

“Oh my goodness, Theophile Bourgeois was one of the greats in our industry. As far as the charter fishing industry went, nobody did it like Theothile. He was a great personality,” Williams said. "Theophile was larger than life. He did a phenomenal job as a captain. He did a phenomenal job as a pilot.

In addition to being an expert fishermen, Williams said Bourgeois was a professional and experienced pilot.

“Theophile knew exactly what he was doing. He was very good at his job,” Williams said.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.wafb.com

7 comments:

  1. What’s up with all the recent float plane incidents?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm interested in following this story. Looks like he should have been operating under part 135 but he did not have a certificate from what I can tell? Doesn't look like he had a instrument rating either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alaskan rules! Been complaining about this for years. I get that the destination is remote, but why does a "pilot" get an exception in the interest of public safety because he can't drive there?!?

      Delete
  3. I'm not sure he should have been operating under part 135. Also I'm not sure he would be required to be IFR pilot.

    Does anyone know what the FAA warning to him several years back ( i think 2013) was all about?

    ReplyDelete

  4. Personal Information
    Print This Page
    THEOPHILE JEAN BOURGEOIS

    2783 PRIVATEER BLVD
    BARATARIA LA 70036-5723
    County: JEFFERSON
    Country: USA
    Medical Information:
    Medical Class: Second Medical Date: 7/2019
    MUST WEAR CORRECTIVE LENSES FOR DISTANT VISION AND HAVE GLASSES FOR NEAR VISION.
    BasicMed Course Date: None BasicMed CMEC Date: None
    Certificates
    COMMERCIAL PILOT
    Certificates Description
    Certificate: COMMERCIAL PILOT
    Date of Issue: 8/1/2013

    Ratings:
    COMMERCIAL PILOT
    AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE LAND
    AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE SEA


    Limits:
    ENGLISH PROFICIENT.
    THE CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS FOR HIRE IN AIRPLANES ON CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHTS IN EXCESS OF 50 NAUTICAL MILES OR AT NIGHT IS PROHIBITED.



    I see the limit here on his license. I would assume this is what I have seen news outlets reporting on.

    ReplyDelete
  5. He was investigated in 2013 because a local seaplane company dropped a dime on him about no being 135. IT was concluded that he did not have to have a 135 under Alaska rules.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What are alaskan rules? Where can I read them?

    ReplyDelete