# Accident 19890312003719A: Piper PA28161, New Orleans, LA, March 12, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 12, 1989, 11:17 local time
- Place: New Orleans, LA
- Airport: Lakefront
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.0424° N, 90.0282° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAKEFRONT (NEW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0424&lon=-90.0282&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8369K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8369K-2013-09-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28161
- Reported engine: LYC O320D2G
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Pilot flight hours: 400 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW89FA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA065) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890312003719A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

COLLIDED WITH WATER OF LAKE PONCHARTRAIN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF IN INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW89FA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA065), Mar 12, 1989: Piper PA-28-161 (N8369K), New Orleans, LA, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: THE PILOT DIVERTING HIS ATTENTION FROM FLYING THE AIRCRAFT WHILE COMPLYING WITH THE DEPARTURE CONTROL INSTRUCTIONS, AND ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO DESCEND INTO THE WATER.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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