Ruston Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ruston, Louisiana 71273
Tuesady, September 24, 1985 14:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/24/1985
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City RUSTON
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 71273
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RUSTON MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RSN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 327
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1351 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 85
Weather Observation Facility ID MLU
Elevation of weather observation facility 79
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 33
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2714
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 27 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 30417
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N31919
NTSB Number FTW85LA357
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32RT-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32RT-30
Aircraft Serial Number 32R7885140
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 25 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1917
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES D. YOUNG
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 51456
Aircraft Owner City LAFAYETTE
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70505
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LFT
Departure City LAFAYETTE
Departure State LA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1322
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 90
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --