Piper PA-32RT-300 accident near Ruston, Louisiana, September 24, 1985
On September 24, 1985 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300, registered N31919, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ruston, Louisiana (Ruston Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- September 24, 1985 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Ruston, Louisiana · Ruston Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300 PA-32RT-30 · all PA-32RT-300s on the register
- Registration
- N31919 · registry record · serial 32R7885140
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS 110 HOUR PRIVATE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE LANDING IN A 90 DEGREE CROSS WIND AND VEERED INTO A PICKUP TRUCK SPRAYING HERBICIDE ON THE RUNWAY EDGE LIGHTS. TWO CITY EMPLOYEES SAW THE AIRCRAFT COMING TOWARDS THEM AND ESCAPED WITHOUT INJURY, BUT THE OUTBOARD LEFT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE CAB OF THE PICKUP TRUCK WEREDESTROYED.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 107 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 75 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,917 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 25, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LFT Lafayette LA at 6:22 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 4,000 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from MLU, 33 miles away
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.