Overview
- Radar and radio contact with the Cessna 172N ended around 6:23 p.m. Monday about four miles north of New Orleans Lakefront Airport after departing Gulfport just after 5:40 p.m.
- Searchers reported water discoloration shortly after the disappearance and later recovered apparent debris consistent with a small plane, including a seat cushion.
- The suspended operation involved air and water crews from the Coast Guard and multiple state, parish and volunteer teams that combed the lake for roughly two days.
- The flight was an instructional mission with a female instructor and a male student in their mid-20s, and the owner said the instructor had nearly 1,300 flight hours.
- The cause remains undetermined; the owner said preliminary information did not indicate a mechanical issue, and the NTSB and FAA will lead the investigation as rough lake conditions complicated efforts.