Piper PA-36-400 accident near Cheneyville, Louisiana, May 28, 1985
On May 28, 1985 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-36-400, registered N9907P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cheneyville, Louisiana (Lyle'S Flying airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person 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
- May 28, 1985 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cheneyville, Louisiana · Lyle'S Flying · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-36-400 · all PA-36-400s on the register
- Registration
- N9907P · no longer on the register · serial PA-36750012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED HE HAD ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF IN A LEFT QUARTERING TAILWIND WITH A 1200 LB LOAD OF SEED RICE. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACFT BEGAN A SHALLOW TURN AND THE NOSE DROPPED. THE PLT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE ACFT, BUT IT CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE. HE WAS HOSPITALIZED, BUT HAVING USED BOTH SEAT BELTS & SHOULDER HARNESS, HE SUFFERED NO BROKEN BONES. THE PLT REPORTED NO ENG PROBLEMS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,949 hours in all; 2,710 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 8,949 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,393 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 22, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 4,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.