Piper PA-28-140 accident near Gulfport, Mississippi, September 23, 1985
On September 23, 1985 at about 3:11 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1785J, was destroyed in an accident near Gulfport, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1985 · about 3:11 pm local time
- Place
- Gulfport, Mississippi
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1785J · no longer on the register · serial 28-24208
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT CONTACTED APCH CONTROL FOR ADVISORIES. ASKED ABOUT WX ONROUTE OF ELT. WAS TOLD THAT LINES OF SHOWERS EXISTED ACROSS PATH. PLT ADVISED HE THOUGHT HE HAD FOUND A GAP AND THAT HE THOUGHT HE COULD GET OVER WX. LATER RADIOED THAT RIDE WAS BOUNCY AND HE WAS IN RAIN. ACFT DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR AND RADIO CONTACT LOST. BODIES OF PILOT AND PAX LATER RECOVERED FROM GULF OF MEXICO.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land
- Flight time: 73 hours in all; 37 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 81J Destin FL
- Destination: LFT Lafayette LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:12 pm from GPT, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.