# NTSB FTW80FRJ28: Piper PA-32, N31840, Cottonport, LA, July 3, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: July 3, 1980
- Place: Cottonport, LA · COTTONPORT, LA
- Location: 30.9892° N, 92.0510° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cottonport, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9892&lon=-92.0510&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129822
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FRJ28
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FRJ28

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1268   80/7/3    COTTONPORT,LA       PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 38, 985
        TIME - 1545                    N31840              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MERRICK
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MARKSVILLE,LA               COTTONPORT,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: OTHER
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SUNGLARE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        REMARKS- ABORTED LANDING DUE TO CHILDREN WALKING ON RUNWAY.HIT TREES NEAR END OF RUNWAY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31840](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31840-1982-10-16), registration cancelled 1982-10-16, S/N 32-7840148, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Merrick

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19800703023379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800703023379A), Jul 3, 1980: Piper PA32300, Cottonport, LA, Destroyed. Landing into sun on one-way strip. Saw children on runway. Hit trees on departure end on attempted go-around.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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