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CEN11CA216

2011-03-07 · Belle Chase, Louisiana, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 65LA

Current FAA registration · N434JG

Make / Model
CESSNA A185F
Year of manufacture
1979 · 32 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES (300 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19910322
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A532C9

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was retracted for the water landing.

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pilot reported that he did not complete a second checklist prior to landing and did not ensure that the landing gear was retracted.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. 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pilot reported that he did not complete a second checklist prior to landing and did not ensure that the landing gear was retracted.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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2011_CEN11CA216.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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