# NTSB FTW80FA048: Mitsubishi MU-2B, N962MA, New Orleans, LA, February 23, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 23, 1980
- 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: 7 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 18, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79949
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FA048
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FA048

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0168  80/2/23    NEW ORLEANS,LA      MITSUBISHI MU-2B    CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 51, 10000
        TIME - 1118                    N962MA              PX-  6  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 TOTAL HOURS, 2500 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LAKEFRONT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHICAGO,IL                  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
           WEATHER - FOG
           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
          OBSCURATION                                               100
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          FOG                                                      CALM
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          BELOW MINIMUMS                                           IFR
        REMARKS- CRASHED INTO WATER 400YDS LEFT OF LOCALIZER,BELOW GLIDESLOPE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N962MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N962MA-2013-05-23), registration cancelled 2013-05-23, S/N 401 SA, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-2B
- Registry model: [Mitsubishi MU-2B-40](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-2b-40) (registry code 5780440) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01514, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- 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 19800223003549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800223003549A), Feb 23, 1980: Mtsbsi MU2B40, New Orleans, LA, Destroyed, 6 fatal. Aircraft struck water short of runway on Front course approach. Weather was reported below landing minimum ..

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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