Cessna A185F accident near New Orleans, Louisiana, June 19, 1986
On June 19, 1986 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N9937N, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Orleans, Louisiana. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- June 19, 1986 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- New Orleans, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N9937N · no longer on the register · serial 18504373
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND DUE TO RAINY CONDITIONS SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE. HE HAD FORGOTTEN TO RETRACT THE LANDING GEAR AFTER TAKEOFF AND MADE A WATER LANDING WITH THE GEAR DOWN, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO INVERT AND SINK.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,908 hours in all; 287 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 2,906 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,077 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 1985; 165 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Bellechase LA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: 6RO Slidell LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 88°F (31°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from NEW, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.