# NTSB FTW82DA176: Cessna A185F, N71DS, Houma, LA, May 13, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: May 13, 1982, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Houma, LA
- Coordinates: 29.579864, -90.809913 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5799&lon=-90.8099&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 13, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71085
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82DA176
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71085/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DA176

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wheels down landing in water - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - checklist - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS DISTRACTED DURING HIS APPROACH FOR LANDING AND DID NOT UTILIZE THE CHECKLIST. HE LANDED WHEELS DOWN IN WATER AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED DOWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N71DS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18504205
- Airframe hours: 397
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Dresser Industries
- Registered owner: Dresser Industries
- Departed: HUM, HOUMA, LA
- Destination: HUM, HOUMA, LA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,132 total, 397 in this make and model, 2,132 as pilot in command, 124 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 135° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19820513015719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820513015719A), May 13, 1982: Cessna A185F, Houma, LA, Substantial damage. Landed amphibious airplane in water with wheels down. Flipped over. Distracted, had failed to check gear up.

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.