Hammond - New Orleans

On September 11, 1987 at 06:29 AM, Hammond - New Orleans experienced a crash involving Partenavia P.68, operated by El Tres Petroleum Corporation, with the event recorded near New Orleans-Lakefront Louisiana.

The flight was categorized as executive/corporate/business and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The pilot began an ILS runway 18R approach at night to the Lakefront Airport. He reported that after the aircraft broke out of the clouds at 1,700 feet, he transitioned to a visual approach. He stated that as he continued, the approach seemed normal, except the VASI lights seemed too far down the runway. He remembered that just before impact, the VASI was providing a red over red indication, but he did not worry as he perceived the aircraft was over the end of the runway and he was about to flare. At about that time, the aircraft impacted with water, well short of the runway. As the aircraft sank, the pilot escaped thru a hole in the windshield. Subsequently, he was found by passing fishermen. The pilot believed he had gotten a false perception of the runway location due to reflection of lights off of calm lake water.

Aircraft reference details include registration N1352W, MSN 232, year of manufacture 1982.