# Accident 20091210053219A: Piper PA-30, Port Mansfield, TX, December 10, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 10, 2009, 22:21 local time
- Place: Port Mansfield, TX
- Airport: Charles R. Johnson Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.5578° N, 97.4358° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5578&lon=-97.4358&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7781Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7781Y-2012-11-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-30 (registry code 7103002, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-320 series (registry code 41509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN10FA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA070) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091210053219A

## Narrative

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

PILOT DEPARTED VFR FROM SUN RAY, TX FOR PORT MANSFIELD (T05), A FOUR HOUR FLIGHT.AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS AIR-FILED ENROUTE. PILOT REQUESTED A DESENT TO MINIMUM VECTORING ALTITUDE TO ATTEMPT A VISUAL APPROACH.  AIRCRAFT WAS DISCOVERED 1.6 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF T05 UPSIDE DOWN IN 7 TO 10 FEET OF WATER. THE ENGINES AND AUX FUEL TANKS SEPERATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE OUTER LEFT WING PANEL WAS NOT RECOVERED.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONFIGURED FOR LANDING. PROPELLER DAMAGE INDICATES ENGINE ROTATION WHEN WATER IMPACTED. BOTH PILOT AND PASSENGER PERISHED IN ACCIDENT.

## 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 CEN10FA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA070), Dec 11, 2009: Piper PA-30 (N7781Y), Port Mansfield, TX, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with the water while on approach (VFR) to land.

## Other reports on N7781Y (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19960323004969I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960323004969I), Mar 23, 1996: Piper PA30 (N7781Y), Springdale, AR, Substantial damage. Narrative: history of flight: on March 22, 1996 a Piper PA-30, N7781Y, departed cape girardeau, MO. VFR for Springdale, AR with pilot in command Mr. Steve…

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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