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January 5, 1986 · Piper PA-31P-350 · N9253Y

Norco, LA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 5, 1986
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Norco, LA
Aircraft
Piper PA-31P-350
Tail Number
N9253Y
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW86FA031

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.

Full Narrative

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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:14 CST
Nearest AirportMOISANT (6nm WNW)
Runway10
Runway Length9228 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-31P-350
Tail NumberN9253Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540-V2AD · Reciprocating · 350
Seats7

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 51 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind360° @ 5 kt
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 55
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time23:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data