# NTSB FTW75AF052: Piper PA-23, N4321P, New Orleans, LA, February 17, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 17, 1975
- 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: 2 fatal, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 147962
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW75AF052
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75AF052

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0295  75/2/17    NEW ORLEANS,LA      PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 45, 537
        TIME - 2127                    N4321P              PX-  1  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 87 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LAKEFRONT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KILLEEN,TX                  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
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISUNDERSTANDING OF ORDERS OR INSTRUCTIONS
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALTIMETER SETTING-INCORRECT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INSTRUCTIONS-MISINTERPRETED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1100
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       66
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          120                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- SET ALT TOO HI.ATC INSTRUCTIONS TO PLT UNCLEAR.CRASHED IN LAKE 1 MI FROM ARPT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4321P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4321P-1975-04-28), registration cancelled 1975-04-28, S/N 23-1822, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23) (registry code 7102302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Lakefront

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19750217004759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750217004759A), Feb 17, 1975: Piper PA23160, New Orleans, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Set alt too hi.ATC instructions to plt unclear. Crashed in lake 1 mi from arpt.

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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