# NTSB Accident ERA13LA019
> **PIPER PA-23-250** · 2012-10-13 · Charlotte Amalie, USA · FATL
## Event
- **NTSB number:** ERA13LA019
- **Event ID:** 20121015X92424
- **Type:** Accident
- **Date:** 2012-10-13
- **Location:** Charlotte Amalie, USA
- **Coordinates:** 18.240833, -65.055274
## Injuries
- **Highest injury:** FATL
- **Fatal:** 3
- **Serious:** 1
- **Minor:** 0
- **Uninjured:** 0
- **Total aboard:** 4
## Aircraft
- **Make:** PIPER
- **Model:** PA-23-250
- **Registration:** N5553Y
- **FAR Part:** 091
- **Engines:** 2
- **Damage:** SUBS
## Conditions
- **Light:** NDRK
- **Weather:** VMC
## Probable cause

The pilot's attempted visual flight rules (VFR) flight into marginal VFR conditions on a dark night over water and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude, which resulted in the airplane’s controlled flight into water. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight weather planning.

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*Source: [NTSB CAROL](https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search?source=ntsb&type=event&ntsb_number=ERA13LA019) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*