Neighbors shocked after plane crashes on Lafayette golf course | News

A Lafayette home builder was killed when the plane he was flying crashed into the Oakbourne Country Club golf course and burst into flames Thursday morning as neighbors and onlookers looked in shock across the fairways.

Greg Manuel, the 73-year-old owner of Manuel Builders, was the only victim of the fire accident.

The entrance to the golf course, less than two miles from Lafayette Airport, was surrounded by police and firefighters for hours after the accident. Oakbourne authorities have closed the country club until further notice while they piece together what happened.

According to the Lafayette Fire Department, the crash occurred at 11:37 a.m. Initial investigation revealed that the plane was a private jet that crashed during takeoff.

Ray Daughtery, a neighbor, was sitting outside on the porch with his wife and grandson when the group noticed a small plane having trouble taking off from the airport runway.

While attempting to gain altitude, the plane began to sway back and forth before turning north and then south toward the golf course, Daughtery said.

The plane hit the ground with a dull thud near the fairway of the 18th hole before bursting into flames less than a minute later.

Daughtery, who has lived on Nickerson Parkway next to Oakbourne's driving range for four years, said the plane's engine roared immediately after takeoff.

“We were pretty shocked. We see so many planes taking off and landing here and I just knew this one wouldn't make it,” Daughtery said.

“It was kind of scary,” he added.

Jacqueline Johansson, another neighbor who lives on Valleyview Drive, also witnessed the moments before the plane crash.

Johansson said she watched the plane approach the golf course network along Simcoe Street and feared the plane might crash into it.

Then she saw the plane turn and fly over Oakbourne's Riverside apartment complex and then over the Vermilion River behind the complex. Then she heard a bang.

The cause of the plane crash is still under investigation, officials said.

“This is going to be a slow process,” said Lafayette Fire Chief Robert Benoit. “This is not something that can be investigated and figured out in a few hours. It could take days, weeks, months, maybe even a year.”

The National Transportation Safety Board will be the lead agency investigating the crash, with assistance from the Lafayette Fire Department, Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, Lafayette Airport Commission and the Lafayette City Council.