# NTSB FTW71AF040: Piper PA-22, N8101C, Franklin, LA, January 17, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 17, 1971
- Place: Franklin, LA · FRANKLIN, LA
- Location: 29.7849° N, 91.5096° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Franklin, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7849&lon=-91.5096&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 19, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 159420
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW71AF040
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW71AF040

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0152  71/1/17    FRANKLIN,LA         PIPER PA-22         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 42, 100
        TIME - 1915                    N8101C              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HOUMA,LA                    HOUSTON,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  30000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          HAZE                                                      63
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           50                                                       3
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL 0.259 PCT. IN FLT VIS RESTRICTED BY HAZE,SMOKE,FOG. RECOVERY DATE 1/18/71.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8101C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8101C-1971-02-18), registration cancelled 1971-02-18, S/N 22-2247, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
