# NTSB CEN11CA216: Cessna A185F, N434JG, Belle Chase, LA, March 7, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 7, 2011, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Belle Chase, LA - Coordinates: 29.865833, -90.022224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8658&lon=-90.0222&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 78515 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA216 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78515/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78515 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA216 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was retracted for the water landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was planning on performing a landing on a runway and extended the landing gear. During the approach, he elected to perform a water landing instead, due to the 90 degree crosswind. While performing the water landing, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted in the water. The pilot reported that he did not complete a second checklist prior to landing and did not ensure that the landing gear was retracted. The lower cowling was crushed aft and wrinkled, the left wing leading edge was crushed aft, and the left wing was bent down. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was planning on performing a runway landing, and had extended the landing gear. During the approach, he elected to perform a water landing, due to the 90 degree crosswind. During the water landing the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted in the water. The pilot reported that he did not complete a second checklist prior to landing and did not ensure that the landing gear was retracted. The lower cowling was crushed aft and wrinkled, the left wing leading edge was crushed aft, and the left wing bent down. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N434JG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N434JG), registered now, S/N 18503785, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18503785 - Airframe hours: 4986 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 65LA, Belle Chase, LA - Destination: 65LA, Belle Chase, LA - Airport: 65LA, Southern Seaplane Airport, runway 02, 4,500 × 25 ft, water ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 20, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 4,200 total, 600 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 10 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KNBG, 2 nm away ## 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 20110307004969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110307004969A), Mar 7, 2011: Cessna A185F, Belle Chase, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he was making a runway landing and had lowered the gear. As he approached the wind was a stronger crosswind than anticipated, so he decided to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 15, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78515. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344926&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.