Cessna 140 accident near Ruston, Louisiana, December 12, 1982
On December 12, 1982 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N89100, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ruston, Louisiana (Ruston airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- December 12, 1982 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ruston, Louisiana · Ruston · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N89100 · no longer on the register · serial 814
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON TAKEOFF THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG SOUND THEN LOST ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT MADE A 180 DEGREE DESCENDING TURN BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT. AT THE EDGE OF THE AIRPORT THE PILOT MADE A HARD TOUCHDOWN ON ALL THREE GEAR ASSEMBLIES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE LOST COMPRESSION ON ONE CYLINDER.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,060 hours in all; 520 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 395 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RSN Ruston LA
- Destination: C Dallas TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.