A plane turned up Sunday, March 22, in a thick, swampy patch of woods near Cleco Lake just south of Boyce in Rapides Parish, but crews say actually getting to it is another story. Rescue and fire officials told reporters they have been unable to reach the aircraft because of dense brush and standing water. Authorities have not yet said what kind of plane it is or whether anyone was on board. The discovery came after afternoon calls from residents who reported a possible crash in the area.
Plane located along the west side of Cleco Lake
The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed that search teams located a plane along the west side of Cleco Lake, also known as Lake Rodemacher, at about 5 p.m. on March 22. Crews still have not been able to physically reach the wreckage because it sits in dense, swampy forest, according to KALB.
Remote lake and difficult terrain
Lake Rodemacher, commonly called CLECO Lake, is a man-made reservoir that serves the nearby Brame Energy Center and is surrounded by heavy timber and wetlands that make access for vehicles and boats a challenge. The lake’s role as a cooling reservoir and the forested, marshy terrain around it help explain why first responders are struggling to get to the site, per Cleco.
Multiple agencies search the scene
Officials say the search kicked off in the early afternoon after residents reported a possible crash near Cotile Lake, and multiple local and state agencies were called in to help. The response included the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Pineville Fire and Rescue, Alexandria Fire Department, Rapides Fire District-2, Cotile Volunteer Fire, Flatwoods Volunteer Fire, Pafford Ambulance Service, Louisiana State Forestry Service and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Authorities also notified the FAA and NTSB, according to KALB.
What investigators do next
If the National Transportation Safety Board responds, its team will document the scene, collect evidence and coordinate with local agencies while it works to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations. The NTSB is the federal agency responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents in the United States and assisting victims and families, according to the NTSB.
This remains a developing story. Officials say more information will come from the NTSB and the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office as investigators and rescue crews are able to safely access the site.
