1 killed, 1 injured in seaplane crash in La.; pilots practicing water landings in marshland

La. plane practicing water landing crashes; 1 dead

BELLE CHASSE, La. — Authorities say a seaplane practicing touch-and-go landings on water crashed in marshland in southeastern Louisiana, killing a student pilot.

Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman Maj. John Marie says the small aircraft was equipped with two pontoons and flipped over in Oak River near Pointe a la Hache after apparently encountering wind shear.

The student killed was a 39-year-old man from Cummings, Ga. Marie says the pilot, 51-year-old Lyle Panepinto, of Gretna, La., escaped serious injury.

A spokesman for the unified Gulf oil spill response command says one of its boats arrived at the crash scene and called authorities. He says the crashed aircraft was not operating with spill responders.