Cessna 185 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 476 events recorded from 1982 to 2025.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 1994 | FAIRBANKS, AK | N93769 | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. |
| Mar 13, 1994 | FORT LEWIS, WA | N4732E | Incident | substantial | THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE SEIZED IN A PARTIALLY OPEN POSITION. |
| Dec 20, 1993 | GRAND ISLAND, NE | N581JB | Incident | substantial | the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. A factor related to the accident was the gusty quartering tailwind condition. |
| Sep 22, 1993 | DE BORGIA, MT | N4176Y | Fatal (2) | destroyed | THE PILOT'S POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ABOVE A STALL. |
| Sep 18, 1993 | KETCHIKAN, AK | N84627 | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION. THE ROUGH WATER IN THE TAKEOFF AREA WAS A FACTOR. |
| Aug 30, 1993 | HULAHULA RIVER, AK | N70087 | Fatal (1) | destroyed | THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S ATTEMPTED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH TERRAIN AND THE OBSCURATION. |
| Aug 15, 1993 | NOME, AK | N3374R | Incident | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Aug 14, 1993 | POINT BARROW, AK | N20752 | Incident | substantial |
FUEL EXHAUSTION AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S NOT REFUELING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OPERATOR/MANAGEMENT INADEQUATE FLIGHT FOLLOWING …FUEL EXHAUSTION AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S NOT REFUELING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OPERATOR/MANAGEMENT INADEQUATE FLIGHT FOLLOWING AND OPERATIONAL CONTROL OVER THE FLIGHT. |
| Aug 12, 1993 | STIBNITE, ID | N2690Z | Incident | substantial |
LEAKAGE OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID AND IMPROPER MAINTENANCE BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE INSPECTION BY …LEAKAGE OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID AND IMPROPER MAINTENANCE BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE INSPECTION BY THE MECHANIC. |
| Jul 01, 1993 | WASILLA, AK | N93018 | Minor | substantial |
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO USE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY (WATERWAY). A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S LACK OF RECENT EXPE…THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO USE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY (WATERWAY). A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION. |
| Jun 20, 1993 | VICTORY, AK | N1679Z | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. |
| Jun 12, 1993 | ARCTIC VILLAGE, AK | N8536L | Incident | substantial |
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A LANDING. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE SOFT/THIN (WEAK) ICE CONDITION OF THE LAKE SURFAC…THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A LANDING. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE SOFT/THIN (WEAK) ICE CONDITION OF THE LAKE SURFACE. |
| May 31, 1993 | GUSTAVUS, AK | N185TD | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT MISJUDGING HIS SPEED WHILE LANDING ON A WET GRASS STRIP. |
| May 29, 1993 | BULCHITNA LAKE, AK | N80124 | Incident | substantial | THE FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR LEG DUE TO A FATIGUE FRACTURE CAUSED BY CORROSION. |
| May 23, 1993 | LOWELL, ID | N4080Y | Incident | substantial | FATIGUE OF THE ROCKER ARM AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN WHICH WAS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. |
| May 23, 1993 | BARROW, AK | N75LE | Incident | substantial | THE FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR SPRING. |
| Mar 14, 1993 | BARROW, AK | N61500 | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT IN COMMAND INADVERTENTLY STALLING THE AIRPLANE. |
| Feb 21, 1993 | BRIDGEPORT, NE | N252W | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE LANDING ROLL. |
| Feb 04, 1993 | NORTH BEND, OR | N5849J | Minor | substantial | THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE A POOR INFLIGHT DECISION, AND GUSTY CROSSWINDS. |
| Dec 13, 1992 | LANAI, HI | N4742E | Incident | substantial |
THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT OBSTRUCTIONS WERE HIDDEN IN THE GRASS OF THE LANDING AREA CHOSE…THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT OBSTRUCTIONS WERE HIDDEN IN THE GRASS OF THE LANDING AREA CHOSEN BY THE PILOT FOR THE FORCED LANDING. |
| Nov 28, 1992 | POINT HOPE, AK | N20752 | Incident | substantial |
THE FAILURE OF THE NO. TWO CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD DUE TO A SLIPPED (SPUN) MAIN CRANKSHAFT BEARING WHICH BLOCKED OFF THE OIL HOLE TO THE CONNECTING RO…THE FAILURE OF THE NO. TWO CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD DUE TO A SLIPPED (SPUN) MAIN CRANKSHAFT BEARING WHICH BLOCKED OFF THE OIL HOLE TO THE CONNECTING ROD. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO PERFORM A FORCED LANDING. |
| Sep 29, 1992 | PETERSBURG, AK | N4891Q | Incident | destroyed | THE PILOTS INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND DURING INITIAL CLIMB. A FACTOR RELATING TO ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITION. |
| Sep 15, 1992 | KOTZEBUE, AK | N9395N | Incident | substantial | Investigation pending |
| Sep 03, 1992 | DOVER FOXCROFT, ME | N93766 | Incident | substantial | INADEQUATE SERVICING OF THE AIRCRAFT WHICH RESULTED IN THE LACK OF HYDRAULIC FLUID AND THE CONSEQUENT LOSS OF BRAKE PRESURE. |
| Aug 30, 1992 | YAKUTAT, AK | N3347L | Incident | substantial | THE PILOT IN COMMAND NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. |