Piper PA-30 accident near New Orleans, Louisiana, October 16, 2024
On October 16, 2024 at about 1:18 pm local time, a 1966 Piper PA-30, registered N7967Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near New Orleans, Louisiana (Lakefront airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of a landing gear torque arm which resulted in a landing gear collapse and runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 2024 · about 1:18 pm local time
- Place
- New Orleans, Louisiana · Lakefront · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30, built 1966 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N7967Y · registry record · serial 30-1065
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while on approach he extended the landing gear, and the three green landing gear indication lights were illuminated; however, he noted that the gear took longer to extend than expected. There was a minimal crosswind, the wind was not gusting, and he lowered the right wing into the crosswind. Upon touch down, the right wing dropped and contacted the runway then the nose gear collapsed, and the gear warning horn sounded. The airplane continued off the right side of the runway and came to rest upright in the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing spar. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left torque arm for right gear and nose gear was broken. The nose gear push pull rod and rod end for the right gear push pull cable was detached from the left torque arm. The right torque arm for the left gear was intact. The rod end for the left gear push pull cable was still attached and functional.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 33,500 hours in all; 2,033 in this make and model; 25,000 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 18, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 14, 2024; 5.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 5 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HDC Hammond LA at 12:59 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36L, 6,879 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 22 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from KNEW, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KNEW 161253Z 04022KT 10SM CLR 15/06 A3028 RMK AO2 PK WND 05033/1229 SLP247 T01500061
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photog rap h 1 – Accide nt site (Courte sy of accid e nt pilot)
Photog rap h 2 – Fuse lage d amag e (Courte sy of accide nt pilot)
Photog rap h 3 – Sp ar d amag e (Courte sy of accid e nt pilot)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on January 3, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Airplane Service Manual Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.