Cessna A185F accident near Orange Grove, Louisiana, May 31, 1986
On May 31, 1986, a Cessna A185F, registered N96158, was destroyed in an accident near Orange Grove, Louisiana. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- May 31, 1986
- Place
- Orange Grove, Louisiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N96158 · no longer on the register · serial 18503115
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PART 135 CHECK RIDE, THE CHECK PLT HAD THE PLT EXECUTE A PWR OFF LANDING FROM AN ALT OF 150 FT AGL. THE PLT REACTED TO THE PWR LOSS BY ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN TO LAND. THE ACFT THEN STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND AFTER THE FAILURE MAINTAIN AIRSPEED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,100 hours in all; 5,100 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 50 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,326 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 12, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HUM Houma LA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: Lake Decade LA
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from HUM, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
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.
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.