- Date
- January 4, 1986, 18:14 local (Jan 5, 1986, 00:14 UTC)
- Place
- Norco, LA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9253YPiper PA-31P-350
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19860104000099A
- Case key
- 21884
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt initiated an ILS apch in below minimum weather conditions shortly after night fall. He was given a low alt alert, but continued the apch. He announced a missed apch, and indicated problems climbing to alt. He then declared an unspecified emergency, and requested vectors to a larger arpt, in spite of worsening weather conditions. He reached an alt of 2100 ft, but commenced another ILS apch despite previous difficulties. Radar data indicates excessive maneuvering to intercept the inbound course, with wide variations in groundspeed and alt. Following a steep climb at a low groundspeed, the acft disappeared below radar coverage. Witnesses indicated irregular engine sounds as the acft made a tight level turn at low alt prior to impacting trees in a near level attitude. On-scene evidence shows power was being produced from both engines upon impact. Post-impact fire consumed the wreckage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9253Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA-31P-350
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 319-8414030
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540-V2AD, 350 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William P. Gundy
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 6, 1985 · 60 hours before
- Departed
- GSP · Greer, SC
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MSY · Moisant, runway 10, 9,228 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,085 total · 140 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 360° at 5 knots
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MSY, 7 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.