# NTSB FTW00LA180: Cessna A185F, N61441, New Orleans, LA, June 12, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 12, 2000, 18:26 local (23:26 UTC) - Place: New Orleans, LA - Location: 29.9933° N, 90.2590° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LOUIS ARMSTRONG NEW ORLEANS INTL (MSY), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9933&lon=-90.2590&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 8, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49423 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49423/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA180 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command ## Analysis During the landing roll, the pilot attempted to exit the runway onto a taxiway at a high rate of speed. Subsequently, the tail-wheel equipped airplane ground looped, and the left main landing gear collapsed. ## Factual narrative On June 12, 2000, at 1826 central daylight time, a Cessna A185F tail-wheel equipped airplane, N61441, was substantially damaged during landing roll at the New Orleans Moisant Field Airport, near New Orleans, Louisiana. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Southern Seaplane, Inc., of Belle Chasse, Louisiana. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air taxi flight. The on-demand cargo flight originated from Lake Charles, Louisiana, at 1700. According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the pilot landed the airplane on runway 10. During the landing roll the pilot attempted to exit the runway onto taxiway Alpha at a "high rate of speed," and the airplane "ground looped." In the enclosed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that "after a three-point landing and rollout [he] began a turn toward the taxiway, the tail of the aircraft came around and the aircraft proceeded to ground loop." Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that the left wing tip, left aileron, and the elevator were damaged. The left main landing gear was found collapsed, and the left main landing gear's attach point was structurally damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61441](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61441), registered now, S/N 18504191, built 1980 (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-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18504191 - Airframe hours: 12222 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Southern Seaplane, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 18, 2000, 41 hours before - Departed: CWF, LAKE CHARLES, LA - Destination: MSY - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: MSY, New Orleans International, runway 10, 10,104 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,580 total, 600 in this make and model, 3,250 as pilot in command, 230 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MSY ## 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 20000612012959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000612012959A), Jun 12, 2000: Cessna A185F, New Orleans, LA, No damage. (-23) Pilot tried to turn off runway onto taxiway at too high a rate of speed. Airplane ground-looped and sustained substantial damage to left landing gear,… 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.