# NTSB FTW86FA031: Piper PA-31P-350, N9253Y, Norco, LA, January 5, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 4, 1986, 18:14 local (Jan 5, 1986, 00:14 UTC)
- Place: Norco, LA
- Coordinates: 30.000968, -90.399749 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0010&lon=-90.3997&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21884
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW86FA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21884/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86FA031

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, missed approach (ifr)
  - aircraft performance,climb capability - loss,partial (contributing factor)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - not performed, other maintenance personnel
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command
  - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command
  - maneuver - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9253Y-1988-05-02), registration cancelled 1988-05-02, S/N 31P8414030 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31P-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA 31P 350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31p-350) (registry code 7103111) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 319-8414030
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19860104000099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860104000099A), Jan 4, 1986: Piper PA31P350, Norcorleans, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft struck trees during an ILS approach. Suspect autopilot problems affected pilot instrument procedures.

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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