# NTSB FTW72AF031: Aero Comdr 680T, N78D, New Orleans, LA, December 5, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 5, 1971
- Place: New Orleans, LA · NEW ORLEANS, LA
- Location: 29.9546° N, 90.0751° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of New Orleans, LA, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9546&lon=-90.0751&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 11, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 164555
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW72AF031
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW72AF031

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3206   71/12/5   NEW ORLEANS,LA      AERO COMDR 680T     CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 50, 5812
        TIME - 2323                    N78D                PX-  2  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LAKEFRONT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KNOXVILLE,TENN              NEW ORLEANS,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PILOT FATIGUE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  100
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          SMOKE                                                     59
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          120                                                       22
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          BELOW MINIMUMS                                           IFR
        REMARKS- DESCENDED BELOW MDA ON LOCALIZER APCH. CRASHED IN LAKE ON 2ND ATTEMPT. BODY OF 1 PAX NOT RECOVERED
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78D-1972-01-17), registration cancelled 1972-01-17, S/N 1580 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMDR 680T
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 680T](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-680t) (registry code 0141712) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Lakefront

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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