Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40 off New Orleans: 3 killed
Date & Time:
Nov 7, 1977 at 1820 LT
Registration:
N77AP
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New Orleans - Fort Lauderdale
MSN:
282-37
YOM:
1965
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total hours on type:
243.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from New Orleans-Lakefront Airport runway 35, while climbing by night to a height of 300 feet, the airplane entered a left turn then struck the water surface and crashed into Lake Pontchartrain. A pilot was seriously injured while three other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with water during initial climb after the crew failed to maintain a positive rate of climb. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Instruments misread or failed to read,
- Failed to use the checklist.
- Instruments misread or failed to read,
- Failed to use the checklist.
Final Report:
