Cessna 182 accident near Port Sulphur, Louisiana, July 11, 1995
On July 11, 1995 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N2878R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Sulphur, Louisiana (Birdwind Field (Private)). It was a business 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
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF HIS SHORT FIELD LANDING RESULTING IN AN INTENTIONAL GROUND LOOP TO AVOID AN OVERRUN. FACTORS WERE THE REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS ON THE WET GRASS RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1995 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Port Sulphur, Louisiana · Birdwind Field (Private) · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N2878R · no longer on the register · serial 18258478
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CIRCLING OVERHEAD THE 1,500 FOOT PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP, THE PILOT OBSERVED 'STANDING WATER' AND POWER LINES AT THE EAST END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND FROM THE WEST TO AVOID THE WATER AND THE POWER LINES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT, DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT, 'NORMAL BRAKING WAS NOT EFFECTIVE IN SLOWING THE AIRCRAFT DOWN.' IN ORDER TO AVOID CONTACTING AN EMBANKMENT AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT 'ATTEMPTED TO GROUND LOOP THE AIRCRAFT.' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT WING AND PROPELLER STRUCK THE GROUND.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,280 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 1,220 as pilot in command; 920 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,011 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 1995; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NEW New Orleans LA at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.