# NTSB FTW79FA108: Piper PA-31, N27614, Luling, LA, September 20, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 20, 1979
- Place: Luling, LA · LULING, LA
- Location: 29.8985° N, 90.3532° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Luling, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8985&lon=-90.3532&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 8, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133542
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79FA108
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FA108

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2645  79/9/20    LULING,LA           PIPER PA-31         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 36, 300
        TIME - 1103                    N27614              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 60 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LULING,LA                   FORT WORTH,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          HAZE                                                      82
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27614](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27614-1981-10-27), registration cancelled 1981-10-27, S/N 31-7812058, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31) (registry code 7103103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19790920029039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790920029039A), Sep 20, 1979: Piper PA31, Luling, LA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Pilot lost control during climbout in an area of severe thunderstorms. .

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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