# NTSB FTW85LA291: Cessna A185F, N9905N, Patterson, LA, July 12, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 12, 1985, 13:08 local (18:08 UTC)
- Place: Patterson, LA
- Coordinates: 29.689546, -91.299911 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6895&lon=-91.2999&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21803
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA291
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21803/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA291

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - object - vehicle
  - visual lookout - inadequate, driver of vehicle (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT WAS RAMMED BY A SPEED BOAT AFTER IT HAD LANDED ON A CANAL AND WAS WATER TAXIING TO ITS TIE DOWN AREA. THE BOAT CAME OUT OF A CROSSING CANAL AT HIGH SPEED AND STRUCK THE AMPHIB IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT FLOAT. THE BOAT OPERATOR STATED THAT HE EXITED THE CANAL AT HIGH SPEED IN ORDER TO CLEAR SOME SHALLOW WATER AND THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE ACFT DUE TO TREES EXTENDING INTO THE MAIN CANAL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9905N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18504369
- Airframe hours: 373
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Billy Francis, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, March 12, 1985, 126 hours before
- Departed: VERMILLION, LA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,840 total, 444 in this make and model, 1,723 as pilot in command, 115 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F

## 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 19850712033039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850712033039A), Jul 12, 1985: Cessna A185F, Patterson, LA, Substantial damage. During water taxi a speed boat came out of a canal at high speed and rammed the left float and wing.

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.