FTW00LA180

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. 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12