# NTSB FTW87FA213: Partenavia P68C, N1352W, New Orleans, LA, September 11, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 11, 1987, 06:29 local (11:29 UTC)
- Place: New Orleans, LA
- Coordinates: 30.019666, -90.019355 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0197&lon=-90.0194&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 7, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22276
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA213
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22276/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA213

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water,glassy (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - unsafe/hazardous condition warning - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE PLT BEGAN AN ILS RWY 18R APCH AT NGT TO THE LAKEFRONT ARPT. HE RPRTD THAT AFTER THE ACFT BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AT 1700', HE TRANSITIONED TO A VISUAL APCH. HE STATED THAT AS HE CONTD, THE APCH SEEMED NORMAL, EXCEPT THE VASI LIGHTS SEEMED TOO FAR DOWN THE RWY. HE REMEMBERED THAT JUST BEFORE IMPACT, THE VASI WAS PROVIDING A RED OVER RED INDCN, BUT HE DID NOT WORRY AS HE PERCEIVED THE ACFT WAS OVER THE END OF THE RWY & HE WAS ABOUT TO FLARE. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE ACFT IMPACTED WITH WATER, WELL SHORT OF THE RWY. AS THE ACFT SANK, THE PLT ESCAPED THRU A HOLE IN THE WINDSHIELD. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE WAS FOUND BY PASSING FISHERMEN. THE PLT BELIEVED HE HAD GOTTEN A FALSE PERCEPTION OF THE RWY LOCATION DUE TO REFLECTION OF LIGHTS OFF OF CALM LAKE WATER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1352W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1352W-1991-04-09), registration cancelled 1991-04-09, S/N 232 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PARTENAVIA P68C
- Registry model: [Partenavia P.68C](https://openairdocs.org/model/partenavia-p-68c) (registry code 6780105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 232
- Airframe hours: 913
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: El Tres Petroleum Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 30, 1987, 83 hours before
- Departed: OR9, HAMMOND, LA
- Destination: NEW
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: NEW, Lakefront, runway 18R, 6,700 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 15,164 total, 30 in this make and model, 14,905 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: NEW

## 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 19870911051629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870911051629A), Sep 11, 1987: Parten P68C, New Orleans, LA, Destroyed. Landed in calm water short of runway. Cartwheeled.sank. Pilot failed to use VASI.runway lights reflected on water.

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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