Piper Aircraft, Inc. PA-31 accident near New Orleans, LA
On November 30, 2011, a Piper Aircraft, Inc. PA-31 (airplane) was involved in an accident near New Orleans, LA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: minor.
- Date
- November 30, 2011
- Place
- New Orleans, LA
- Aircraft
- Piper Aircraft, Inc. PA-31 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Minor
- Position
- 30.039°N, 90.024°W
- NTSB ID
- 20111129X24104
Official records · CEN12FA088
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 29, 2011, at 1824 central standard time, a Piper Aircraft, Inc., PA-31 (Navajo), N6485L, impacted obstructions during an emergency landing at Lakefront Airport (NEW), New Orleans, Louisiana. During cruise flight the commercial pilot became incapacitated and died. The passenger suffered minor injuries. The airplane sustained minor damage. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by another private individual as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 1547 from Stephenville Airport (SEP), Stephenville, Texas. The passenger, who was not a pilot, reported the airplane was eastbound in cruise flight when he noticed that the pilot was in distress and then became unresponsive. With just the two occupants on-board, the passenger described several instances when the airplane was out of control while he was providing first aid to the pilot. The passenger was able to regain control and maneuvered the airplane toward the lights of the city. He then headed towards a flat open area, which turned out to be runways at NEW. Witnesses at the airport observed the lights of the airplane moving erratically when they saw it make a turn, descend toward the airport, and land on the runway. After impacting the runway, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, struck signage and lights, then crossed back over the runway. The airplane came to rest upright in a grassy area to the right of the
Probable cause
The pilot's fatal cardiac event, which resulted in the inflight loss of control of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's use of impairing medications and operation of the airplane with disqualifying medical conditions.
More accidents in LA
- Sikorsky S-76C, Jan 4, 2009
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Browse: Louisiana
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
