# NTSB FTW83LA090: Piper PA-31-350, N3533U, Belle Chase, LA, January 14, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 14, 1983, 02:10 local (08:10 UTC)
- Place: Belle Chase, LA
- Coordinates: 29.840181, -89.999176 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8402&lon=-89.9992&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20792
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83LA090
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20792/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA090

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, landing - roll
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - ifr procedure - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED FOG DURING LANDING ROLLOUT, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL AND RAN INTO A FENCE. THE AIR TAXI PILOT HAD OFF LOADED HIS PASSENGERS AT NEW ORLEANS AND WAS FERRYING THE ACFT TO THE ACCIDENT ARPT AT BELLE CHASE LA. THE PILOT WASNOT INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3533U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7952183
- Airframe hours: 2000
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Southern Seaplane
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, December 1, 1982, 60 hours before
- Departed: MSY, NEW ORLEANS, LA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: LA03, Belle Chase, runway 20, 3,200 ×  ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,600 total, 850 in this make and model, 5,440 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 225° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19830114000949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830114000949A), Jan 14, 1983: Piper PA31350, Belle Chasse, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot encountered fogbank on runway during landing roll and aircraft hit fence off side of runway.

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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