# NTSB FTW81FA024: Piper PA-23, N6812Y, New Orleans, LA, January 15, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 15, 1981
- 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 March 25, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126560
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FA024
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA024

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3460  81/1/15    NEW ORLEANS,LA      PIPER PA-23         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 73, 2334
        TIME - 1355                    N6812Y              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 431 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LAKEFRONT
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GRAND ISLAND,NE             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)
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: FAILURE TO ADVISE OF UNSAFE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: OTHER
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        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 DIRECTION-DEGREES
          FOG                                                      300
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           5                                                       BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- ATIS OVR 3HRS OLD,ADVISING RWY36 IN USE.ILS RWY18 APCH.1349 WX,WOX 1/8F,NOT GIVEN TO PLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6812Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6812Y-1983-10-06), registration cancelled 1983-10-06, S/N 27-4150 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (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 19810115089491A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810115089491A), Jan 15, 1981: Piper PA23250, New Orleans, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft crashed short of runway into water during instrument approach. Weather below landing minimums.

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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