Three Dead After Small Plane Crashes in Lafayette Parish Field
LAFAYETTE PARISH, La. (WAFB/KATC) — October 22, 2025
Tragedy struck in Lafayette Parish on Tuesday morning (October 21) when a small twin-engine plane crashed into an open field near the intersection of Gloria Switch Road and LA Highway 93, killing all three people on board.
According to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office (LPSO), deputies were dispatched just after 11:00 a.m. following multiple reports of an aircraft circling erratically before rapidly losing altitude and crashing. When first responders arrived, they found the wreckage of a Beechcraft Baron, a light twin-engine aircraft, engulfed in flames.
Authorities have identified the victims as:
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Bruce Verduyn, 58, of The Woodlands, Texas
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Lydia Laws, 46, of Spring, Texas
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Justin Ramsey, 42, of The Woodlands, Texas
LPSO spokesperson Sgt. Chris Cormier said that witnesses described the plane as appearing to struggle in the air moments before impact. “It circled several times and then descended sharply,” Cormier said. “Unfortunately, when deputies and emergency personnel arrived, there were no signs of life.”
Flight Path and Investigation
According to Flight Aware, a flight tracking service, a Beechcraft Baron with the tail number N16PV departed from Hooks Memorial Airport in the Houston area at 9:53 a.m. The plane’s radar signal disappeared from tracking systems just over an hour later, at 11:01 a.m., near the crash site in Lafayette Parish.
Investigators say the plane appeared to be en route toward Louisiana when it encountered trouble. At this time, it is unclear whether mechanical failure, weather conditions, or another factor contributed to the crash.
Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been called to the scene and will lead the investigation into the cause of the crash. A preliminary report is expected within the next few weeks, though a full analysis could take several months.
Witness Accounts
Local residents who saw the aircraft before it went down described a frightening scene.
“I was outside when I heard this loud engine noise, and it sounded like it was sputtering,” said nearby resident Carla Dupree. “I looked up and saw the plane circling low — it didn’t look right. Then all of a sudden, it dropped out of the sky.”
Another witness said emergency responders arrived quickly but could do little. “It was already burning when they got there,” he said. “You could tell right away it was bad.”
Response and Aftermath
The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, along with local fire departments and emergency medical crews, worked for hours to secure the crash site and extinguish the flames. Investigators remained on scene throughout the day collecting debris and documenting evidence for federal investigators.
Officials closed portions of Gloria Switch Road and Highway 93 for much of Tuesday afternoon as crews worked to clear the area. The Lafayette Parish Coroner’s Office has taken custody of the victims’ remains for autopsy and formal identification.
Remembering the Victims
The victims — all from Texas — were described as colleagues and close friends who shared a passion for aviation and business travel. While official statements from their families have not yet been released, friends have begun expressing condolences online, describing the three as “dedicated professionals” and “wonderful people gone too soon.”
“This is such a terrible tragedy,” said one family friend from The Woodlands. “They were all kind, driven, and full of life. It’s hard to comprehend that they’re gone.”
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities urge the public to avoid the crash area while federal and local investigators continue their work. The FAA and NTSB will focus on collecting flight data, maintenance records, and pilot information to determine the exact cause of the crash.
“This is a deeply tragic event for everyone involved,” Sgt. Cormier said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims’ families as we work to find out what happened and why.”
As the Lafayette Parish community reflects on the loss, officials say they are committed to uncovering answers and preventing future tragedies in the skies above South Louisiana.
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