Lyle Panepinto, Lauren Menkemeller Obituary, Death – A tragic seaplane crash in Raceland on Wednesday night claimed the lives of two people on board. According to Lafourche Parish President Archie Chiasson, the aircraft had taken off from a body of water in the New Orleans area and was en route to Houma-Terrebonne Regional Airport when it went down. The crash occurred in a marshy area near the intersection of Highway 90 and Highway 182.
The two victims in the crash have been identified as Lyle Panepinto and Lauren Menkemeller. Authorities worked through the night in search and rescue efforts, but darkness and the challenging marshy terrain made operations difficult. Chiasson stated that once daylight arrived, crews were able to locate the wreckage.
Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are now investigating the incident. The FAA confirmed the aircraft was a Cessna 210 and reported that it crashed near Houma-Terrebonne Airport at approximately 8:30 p.m. on April 2. The NTSB has taken the lead on the investigation and will provide further updates as more details emerge.
Authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash, and investigators are working to determine what may have caused the fatal accident.
