Cessna A185F accident near Grand Isle, Louisiana, April 15, 1984
On April 15, 1984 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N2177Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Isle, Louisiana (Elmer'S Island airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 1984 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Isle, Louisiana · Elmer'S Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N2177Q · registry record · serial 18503914
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ESTIMATED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTHEAST AT 15 KTS GUSTING TO 25 KTS. DURING AN EASTERLY TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE STRIP, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A GUST WHICH LIFTED THE LEFT WING CAUSING THE PLANE TO DRIFT RIGHT & LIFT OFF. THE ACFT CLIMBED TO AN ALT OF ABOUT 30 FT AGL, BUT WOULD NOT REMAIN AIRBORNE. IT SETTLED INTO A MARSH WHERE THE LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT NOSED OVER.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,006 hours in all; 116 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 2,920 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 662 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Baton Rouge LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N2177Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.