The Army goggles would have made it difficult to see the plane's colored lights, which might have helped the Black Hawk determine the plane's direction. The goggles also limited the pilots' peripheral vision as they flew near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Lafourche Parish officials said a 911 call was received at about 6:40 a.m. reporting the crash near 691 Highway 308. The incident occurred about a mile off the highway on private property, the station reported. The station also confirmed that the pilot has been identified as Stanley Hebert Jr. of Abbeville.