# Accident 20230824012889A: Cessna A185F, Leonardtown, MD, August 24, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 24, 2023, 16:31 local time
- Place: Leonardtown, MD
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.3188° N, 76.7134° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3188&lon=-76.7134&mi=10
- Aircraft: N955LS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N955LS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna A185F (registry code 2072821, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 257 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA349](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA349) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230824012889A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON AUGUST 24, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 1630 LOCAL TIME, AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A CESSNA 185F SEA PLANE, WAS ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM A WATER LANDING NEAR ST MARY’S COUNTY AIRPORT (2W6) WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC), WHO WAS RECEIVING A CHECK RIDE FROM A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI), HANDED THE CONTROLS OVER TO THE CFI. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A FORCED LANDING INTO A CORN FIELD NEAR LEONARD TOWN MARYLAND, COMING TO A FULL STOP IN THE INVERTED POSITION. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PIC AND CFI SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. AT THAT TIME THE FAA AND THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB ERA23LA349](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA349), Aug 24, 2023: Cessna A185F (N955LS), Leonardtown, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power during an approach to landing for undetermined reasons.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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