Belle Chase Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Belle Chase, Louisiana 70037
Thursday, January 31, 1985 7:45 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT HAD DIVERTED BACK TO THE DEPARTURE APRT DUE TO WX. AFTER LANDING, HE WAS 'STEP TAXIING' ON THE WATER WITH NO REPORTED DIFFICULTIES WHEN A LANDING GEAR SHOCK STRUT, P/N 51961, SEPARATED. THIS ALLOWED A FLOAT TO DIG INTO THE WATER & CAUSED THE ACFT TO FLIP INVERTED & SINK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/31/1985
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 745
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City BELLE CHASE
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70037
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BELLE CHASE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LA03
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 4
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 700 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID NBG
Elevation of weather observation facility 4
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 422
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 1 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 27704
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N53064
NTSB Number FTW85LA107
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model A185F
Aircraft Series Identifier A185F
Aircraft Serial Number 18502352
Certified Max Gross Weight 3350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 4588
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SOUTHERN SEAPLANE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address NO. 1 COQUILLE DR.
Aircraft Owner City BELLE CHASE
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70037
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code LA03
Departure City BELLE CHASE
Departure State LA
Departure Country
Departure Time 715
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GNI
Destination City GRAND ISLE
Destination State LA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 6500
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --