Cessna A185F accident near Barataria, Louisiana, November 18, 2023
On November 18, 2023 at about 4:50 pm local time, a 1981 Cessna A185F, registered N61919, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Barataria, Louisiana (Intracoastal Waterway airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A recreational boat crossed in front of the airplane’s path during landing on the water which resulted in the airplane colliding with the boat.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 2023 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Barataria, Louisiana · Intracoastal Waterway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F, built 1981 · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N61919 · registry record · serial 18504274
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that she had setup for landing on an intracoastal waterway and picked a landing area based on the locations of three nearby boats. During final approach, she had the three boats in sight, one of which was on the far right side of waterway and traveling in the same direction. She determined that the boats would not be a factor and continued to land. The airplane touched down on the choppy water and she added power to keep the airplane on the step. Immediately after touchdown the airplane veered left, then nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot egressed the airplane without further incident. She noticed that the recreational boat that was originally on the right side of the waterway was now on the left side and the boat driver stated that the airplane hit the boat. Since the pilot was seated in the left seat, her view to the lower right area of the airplane would have been restricted by the airframe. The pilot added that three other airplanes had just landed on the waterway and there was one more in position to land behind her.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Awareness of condition
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,010 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 840 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 28, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,286.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 19, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-520-D30B (piston); 1,839 hours total
- Operator: Southern Seaplane, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: 65LA Belle Chasse LA at 4:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,700 ft; scat at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from KNBG, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KNBG 181655Z 01006KT 10SM SCT019 BKN027 BKN250 21/16 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP153 T02110161 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 13, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.