# NTSB FTW71AF070: Gates Lear 25, N954FA, Lake Charles, LA, April 11, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 11, 1971
- Place: Lake Charles, LA · LAKE CHARLES, LA
- Location: 30.2266° N, 93.2174° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lake Charles, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2266&lon=-93.2174&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 22, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 161347
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW71AF070
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW71AF070

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3819  71/4/11    LAKE CHARLES,LA     GATES LEAR 25       CR-  0  0  2  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1120                    N954FA              PX-  0  0  0  PRACTICE                  29, 3948 TOTAL HOURS, 457
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LAKE CHARLES
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAKE CHARLES,LA             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           FIRE OR EXPLOSION: IN FLIGHT                             LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           SYSTEMS - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: BATTERIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - GROUNDED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FIRE IN CABIN,COCKPIT,BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ELECTRICAL FAILURE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
        REMARKS- R BATTERY SHORTED TO GRND FOR UNDETERMINED REASON AND IGNITED. CAUSED FIRE DMG TO ACFT. LND OK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N954FA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GATES LEAR 25
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo jet
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Lake Charles

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.

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