How many accidents has the Cessna 185 had?

The NTSB has recorded 476 events involving the Cessna 185: 43 fatal, 23 serious, 51 minor injuries, and 353 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 185 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 185 has 476 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 185 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 476 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.

476

All Events

353

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (93 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Jul 02, 1990	KING SALMON, AK	N53046	Incident	substantial	TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE PISTON ROD ASSEMBLIES.
Jun 22, 1990	ANCHORAGE, AK	N4145Y	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR TORQUE PLATE CAUSING AN UNCONTROLLABLE LANDING ROLL OUT.
Jun 17, 1990	CHANDLER, AK	N2797J	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.
May 28, 1990	NORTHWAY, AK	N520VA	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE POST-LANDING TAXI.
May 24, 1990	UGANIK BAY, AK	N1095F	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DOWNDRAFTS AND GUSTY WINDS.
Apr 16, 1990	BETHEL, AK	N2214T	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQAUTE SUPPLY OF FUEL.
Mar 20, 1990	MINNEAPOLIS, MN	N4944E	Incident	substantial	AIRCRAFT CONTROL NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT WAS A FACTOR.
Jan 21, 1990	WILLOW, AK	N1802R	Incident	substantial	SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING AREA (UNSUITABLE TERRAIN) BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DEEP SNOW ON THE RUNWAY AND FAILUR… SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING AREA (UNSUITABLE TERRAIN) BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DEEP SNOW ON THE RUNWAY AND FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION (FSS) SPECIALIST TO INFORM THE PILOT THAT THE RUNWAY WAS CLOSED TO WHEEL EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT.
Jan 06, 1990	AGUA DULCE, CA	N9816X	Incident	destroyed	PILOT'S IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION WHICH DIRECTLY LED TO HIS ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF IN AN EXCESSIVE TAILWIND AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURIN… PILOT'S IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION WHICH DIRECTLY LED TO HIS ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF IN AN EXCESSIVE TAILWIND AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE UNSUCCESSFUL ABORT.
Oct 15, 1989	TULUKSAK, AK	N70022	Incident	substantial	MOUNTING SHAFT (AIRBOX THROUGH-SHAFT) FOR THE THROTTLE AND MIXTURE CONTROLS HAD BECOME LOOSE AND BACKED OUT, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. … MOUNTING SHAFT (AIRBOX THROUGH-SHAFT) FOR THE THROTTLE AND MIXTURE CONTROLS HAD BECOME LOOSE AND BACKED OUT, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND ROUGH TERRAIN.
Oct 08, 1989	ROCKWOOD, ME	N7321H	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE GUSTING CROSSWIND. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE WIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF A TOUCHDOWN … THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE GUSTING CROSSWIND. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE WIND CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF A TOUCHDOWN POINT.
Sep 29, 1989	TRADING BAY, AK	N64399	Incident	substantial	PILOT IN COMMANDS FAILURE TO PERFORM AN ADEQUATE VISUAL APPROACH RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH A TREE.
Sep 20, 1989	MULCHATNA RIVER, AK	N4443R	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: … IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: LOSS OF FUEL THAT HAD SIPHONED (LEAKED) FROM THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE TAKEOFF AND TREE(S) OVERHANGING THE FAST MOVING RIVER.
Aug 23, 1989	FRESNO, CA	N1562H	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Aug 06, 1989	DURANGO, CO	N9823X	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE WIND CONDITION WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Jul 31, 1989	WOLFEBORO, NH	N1526F	Incident	substantial	LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES & BOATS) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Jul 02, 1989	FISHERS, NY	N1731R	Incident	substantial	LOSS OF CONTROL DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF DUE TO IMPROPER FLOAT OPERATION ABORTED TAKEOFF PROCEDURE ON TERRA FIRMA, AS OPPOSED TO THE MORE LOGICAL ENV… LOSS OF CONTROL DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF DUE TO IMPROPER FLOAT OPERATION ABORTED TAKEOFF PROCEDURE ON TERRA FIRMA, AS OPPOSED TO THE MORE LOGICAL ENVIRONMENT OF WATER, THE INTENDED ELEMENT FOR THE DESIGN HARDWARE.
Jul 01, 1989	DILLINGHAM, AK	N6305E	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT & A STRONG DOWNDRAFT.
Jul 01, 1989	FAIRBANKS, AK	N75LE	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. THE CROSSWIND AND GUSTS WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Jun 01, 1989	TOKSOOK BAY, AK	N9360N	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY LANDED ON WATER WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED.
May 29, 1989	KAHILTNA GLAC, AK	N1047F	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S DECISION TO COMMIT HIMSELF TO A LANDING BEFORE COMPLETING AN EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER IN THE VICINITY OF THE LANDING SITE. CONTRIBUTING T… THE PILOT'S DECISION TO COMMIT HIMSELF TO A LANDING BEFORE COMPLETING AN EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER IN THE VICINITY OF THE LANDING SITE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SNOWBANK OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WITH WHICH THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED.
Apr 12, 1989	TRINITY LAKE, AK	N9850X	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO LAND.
Mar 26, 1989	EVERETT, WA	N6166N	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING ROLL.
Mar 09, 1989	ALEXANDER LAKE, AK	N70122	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING, DECISIONS WHICH RESULTED IN EXCEEDING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL AVAILABLE WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Mar 07, 1989	SHELL LAKE, AK	N9824X	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION IN SELECTING UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO LAND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN AND… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION IN SELECTING UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO LAND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN AND THE SNOWBANK.

Disclaimer: This data is sourced from the NTSB Aviation Accident Database. NTSB events reflect reported accidents and incidents and do not necessarily indicate a defect in the aircraft type. Many events involve pilot error, weather conditions, maintenance issues, or other factors unrelated to the aircraft design. This information is provided for research purposes only — consult official NTSB reports for complete details.

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Cessna 185 Safety Record

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